The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
RVERGREENS.
BY CAPT. c. z. benson.

subject OF planting eVergreens 1or
the permanent adornment OF ones
home. They form the foundation
and frame work, as it were, OF the
pictures, while the bits of color
here and there serve to light up
the beauty of the stately forms and
rich perpetual verdure of these
lasting landmarks of home.
And it is because of their abid-
ing value when properly selected,
that the first suggestion should be
to choose fewer plants, if necessary,
but select valuable sorts, well and
properly grown.
The best time for transplanting
evergreens is a problem like squar-
ing the circle OF searching a path
to the North pole, but whoever
moves the plant into a suitable
spot, just before the young growth
has opened, will probably have the
best chance Of success, all things
considered.
TINE TO MOVE EyERGREENS.
Transplant now, and until the
middle of May, according to the
variety. All will do well in April.
A few broad leaved sorts will do
better the last of that month and
early III May, than to move in
March, that is, provided March
has the usual cold, windy, raw
days that we too often have had
reason to remember. But FOR nearly
all the evergreen shrubs and trees
usually planted, there is no better
time than March and April.
HOW TO PLANT.
This is more important Than
when to plant, in the hands of
those without experience. First,
it should be understood that the
roots of the evergreens should never
become dry. When the box is
opened, in which they have arrived:
they should at once be transferred
to a trench dug conveniently near
anywhere in the yard or garden,
laid ina slanting position, with the
tops pointing Southwark, so that
the roots may occupy the shaded or
North side of the trench. Put sew
eral inches of earth on the roots.
half-a-dozen will do no hahn, and
tramp firmly. Then you can re-
move them n by one, at your con-
venience, when you are in readi-
ness for them. Many fine ever
green's are annually sacrificed by
opening and allowing them to re
main half an hour in the wind or
sun, drying the roots completely,
after all the care of the nurserymen
to pack SO as to preserve due moist
ure. The plant proceeds to die,
because it a not achieve impossi-
bilities, and somebody writes letters
of indignation to a nursery for
sending out plants that persistently
refuse to be immortal under all cir
cumstances. Or what is worse.
the purchaser says nothing, but
mistakenly feels that he has been
wronged and keeps silence, when
open explanation would soon have
set things right.
But leaving the ethical side of
the subject in question, we are to
observe that to succeed, we are to
give the plants abundant room to
grow in, without cramping their
roots in a hole just large enough to
hide them from view. Dig deep,
remove the poor subsoil, and sup
ply It's place with good garden loan.
woods mould if you have it, and a
little cid well rotted manure, but
do not fill the hole with strong
manur that is the worse thing of
all perhaps that the amateur will
sometimes indulge in, he kills with
affectionate kindness.
Let the soil be finely broken up.
and the sides and bottom of the
hole well chopped to allow the
roots to penetrate freely. Make an
elevation in the bottom of the hole.