The Portland daily press., 1876-11-01
THE PRESS.
TIE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Fall Tree-Planting.
'Plant trees-plant with care;
In gardens, streets-and everywhere.

In gardens, streets-and everywhere"
Centennial Song.
We wish to remind our readers that the
Centennial Year is rapidly drawing 10 close;
and whatever is done to connect ourselves
with 1t as memorial year must be done
quickly. Thus far il has been mainly spent
in recreation and jubilation: we have
plucked and eaten the fruit from the trees
our fathers hands have planted, and in the
midst of ease aud comfort and luxury it may
be there is great danger that we may forget
TO link ourselves with the good works and
sacrifices of our ancestors, and therefore
rightfuly fail TO receive the commentator
of posterty.
Saving the Memorial Hall at Philadelphia,
and here and there statue or some other
work of art erected in other cities there will
be few memorials of the present year to re-
main as permanent marks on our globe-cen-
fury milestones as it were in our grand ma
tional march. 1t must be granted perhaps
that the times are uneventful and the field
banren one, so far as opportunities are con-
cerned. As war no longer desolates the land
the arena for national and individual proves
and achievement is closed; and those who
desire renown must seek it in the humber
walks of peace.
When we regard the amount of the invest
ment we shall find that there is no way of
connecting ourselves with the future so eco
nomical and effective as the simple one of
planting or setting a tree in the earth. Any
one can do the work, young or old, rich or
poor; and where care aud discretion are ex-
ercised in the operation it may be said that
one thus prolongs his own life by as many
years as the tree shall live which his own
right hand has planted. So long as its
leaves are green, as its roots take hold of
earth and its branches lift themselves in air,
so long will he be held in grateful
remembrance. The memory of James
Hillhouse is cherished in New Haven not so
much on account of the valuable service he
rendered, Yale College. or for his eminence
in the United States Senate, as for the taste
and foresight he displayed fourscore years
ago in originating her magnificent forest of
elms. II was recently stated that, "next to
the location of Yale College, nothing has
contributed SO much to the growth and en-
richrnent of the city as its elms. Ii is known
in this and other lands as the City of Fins.
Its magnificent avenues of stately trees. sur
passing even the famous Inter den Linden
of Berlin, have enhanced its reputation for
taste, beauty, and elegance, aud thus at
tracted many wealthy aud desirable residents
and greatly increased the taxable value OF all
the property in the city. New Haven vir-
tually receives an annual income from her
elms, greater than their original cost.'' In
the case OF private residences it has often
proved that the chance planting of few
fruit or shade trees has largely increased the
market value of the property, and effected a
sale which otherwise could not have been
made. But ignoring commercial considera-
tons, We can only wonder that men of wealth
IN the cities, and men of taste IN the coun-
try do not improve the opportunity thus
afforded to transmit themselves to posterity,
and make every tree that lives. monument
to their memory.
Aside from the appropriateness of thus
concentrating the hundredth anniversary
of our national existence, the weight of evil
the fall planting of trees. We are satisfied
that it is better to take up shade trees from
swamps and lowlands, ESPECIALLY the elm
even for transplaDting to sandy soils. In
such conditions the roots are found entirely
upon the surface, and while they are there
fore easily removed they are also in the right
position for finding and appropriating the
good soil in their new home. As it is gener-
ally impracticable to remove trees from wet
localities in the spring on account of excess
OF water, it becomes necessary il the best
are selected, to take them in the fall
When trees are transplanted in the spring,
it is just at the time when they are peculiarly
sensitive to i'll treatment, as under the int1u-
ence of a warmer sun, and the soft reviving
rains, the buds and leaves are expanding and
unfolding their delicate textures to air and
light, and their extreme tenderness makes
them especially susceptible to all rude hand
ling and exposures Any check to the half
opened foliage, whether from lacerated roots
and limbs and the consequent loss of sap,
which is the life of the tree, or from unfavor-
able surroundings after transplanting, Of
ten prolongs the struggle for life, which is
worse than immediate death, as it prevents
the life and growth of a healthy and vigorous
tree.
On the contrary in the autumn trees begin
to prepare for long sleep and rest; they
withdraw all vital forces into their inferior
cells, they harden themselves against the
winters cold, and when they are carefully
removed, the earth gradually settles closely
around their roots, the snow gives them
warmth and shelter, and in the spring they
awaken to new life almost unconcious of
change OF residence. We have noticed but
few failures at this season of the year, when
the work has been done by skillful hands.
The principal reason however for not de-
ferring such work until spring, is that there
Is no time for it. In the rush and hurry of
necessary farm work it is usually entirely
neglected, or else done in so careless a way
that it must be done over. perhaps twice or
thrice. We trust that our readers at this
time of comparative leisuIe-ouiy of few
weeks duratio3-will anticipate the impor-
tant work so often postponed to more in
conveuien. season and thus appropriately i'm
prove the opportunity never to occur again,
of connecting themselves with the beginning