The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-04-26
Secrets of Transplanting.


Telegraph gives some of the methods nee
essary to insure success in transplanting /:
A rule without an exception in trans.
planting is this: Place the roots in con-
tact with as much soil as possible. This
is very important with evergreen trees
and all tine-rooted plants or vines, such
as strawberries, raspberries, grapes, etc.
1t is not enough that nice place is pre-
pared to receive the tree or plant with
all the roots in natural position, or that
the finest of earth is used in filling up.
Nor is it sufficient that the roots are
carefully spread out before the earth is
put onto them. All these things must
be done, and then it is necessary to see
that in filling up the roots are not
crowded into mass without earth be-
tween. This is Of special importance in
planting nursery grown evergreens, as
they are furnished with q mass of fine
roots.
The hole may be of proper size, the
roots spread out nicely, the finest earth
may be used, and the tree shaken we'll
when filling up about the roots, and still
they may be 6attened together SO as to
touch no soil except at the top and bot
tom. Water may be freely used, or the
roots we'll puddled in mud-mortar made
for the purpose, and still the difficulty
only aggravated by making the roots
closer than ever. The fine roots must he
separated and fine earth worked we'll
among them to separate them as widely as
possible. No matter what way you do it,
if when done the roots are pressed firmly
on all sides with fine moist earth and are
separated from each other as far as they
can be.
The annual loss in transplanting is very
great, on account of mot observing the
rule here set forth. Even professional
gardeners, and those who pride them.
selves on their skill in horticulture, make
this mistake, and are puzzled to know
why some or all of their plants die or
grow poorly. Evergreen trees, especially,
are often lost in planting; yet they are
among the hardest of trees, and are al
most certain to grow if properly handled.
At transplanting they are in full leaf, and
Of course more susceptible on that &C.
count to injury from drying than decidu-
Gus trees. Beside this, the sap is resin
GUS, and, if once dried, becomes gum
that cannot circulate in the tree. They
should be kept always moist ON removal
from the nurseries, and, if properly
planted as we have detailed, are sure to
grow, as nursery grown evergreens are
we'll furnished with an abundance of
fibrous roots. But those who plant trees
from the woods with but few roots, or
carelessly let them dry while out Of the
ground, or transplant in such way that
the roots cannot draw sufficient moisture
promptly from the earth, will be disap-
pointed. If their trees do not die out
right, they may make but sickly growth
that cannot be overcome for number of
years at best.
In transplanting fine-rooted plants it is
not only necessary that the roofs be in con-
tact with all the soil possible and in natural
position, but it is essential that the crown
of the plant is not covered so as to
smother the new growth that must start
from that point. The earth should cover
all the roots fully and firmly up to the
very crown, but that should be just at the
surface. Raspberry and strawberry plants
should be carefully attended to in this
particular.
In planting fruit-trees the ends of the
roots should be freshened with q smooth
cut slOping from the underside. The
bruised ends of the roots should be cut of
81 the pores of the roots may come in con-
tact with the soil and the more readily
draw moisture than is possible through
the INSTRUCTED pores of the bruised root
ends as they come from the nurseries.
This often makes the difference between
success and failure. .sa
Lastly, after planting, mulch at once,
or keep the surface coil always in good
filth, that moisture at the roots may al
ways be sufficient, even in times Of
drought.