The National tribune., 1881-12-10

cial; but it is very disagreeable work to lay them
and carpenters are not inclined to encourage the
practice Some lime the roofs after the shingles
have been laid year or two. No doubt this is
very beneficial to that portion OF the shngle that
it touches 1t is now the practice OF some to
paint the roofs, as well as the other portion OF
the buildings. great variety of paints are
used. While some use white lead and linseed
oil, others use various kinds of mineral paints
with cheap fish oil. Some OF these are good,
while others are almost worthless.
About thirteen years ago there was paint
made of ground slate, mixed with coal tar, and
probably some other substance, which, when
properly put on, proved to be not only fre-proof,
but great preserver of the shingles keeping
them without any perceptible change for more
than ten years but this soon went out of style,
if not out of use probably because it was so much
trouble to put it on properly that the work was
improperly done To do the work well, it was
necessary to apply this preparation so hot that it
would penetrate the shingles, and make sur
face as hard as slate-stone. Probably the time
will come when shingles will be dipped IN some
material that will not be disagreeable to the car
penters, and yet preserve them from decay.
When this can be done at the mill where the
shingles are sawed, and they can go to market all
prepared, it will be a step of progress In the
right direction, and will meet q want that at
present is felt by all owners of fbuildings.-Mass.
Ploughman.
TRANSPLANTING TREES DURING WINTER
The system Of removing large trees with balls of
frozen earth is frequently recommended and
occasionally practiced, but seldom with success.
No amount of soil, frozen or otherwise, will COM
pensate for the destruction roots and to remove
all the soil occupied by them is simply imprac-
tcable. The larger and older the tree, the fur
ther will the roots extend, and consequently the
fewer of them can be secured in limited space.
There is great want of discriminating judg-
ment shown in the matter Of lifting and trans
planting large trees. 1t seems to be an opinion
held by some persons that provided they lift
ton or two of soil, success must be certain. Ex-
perience proves that but small percentage Of
such removals ultimately live; they sometimes
linger for years in a stunted or comatose state
and finally die. In many, perhaps in most cases.
the tree could be saved by heroic pruning ope-
ration cutting the branches severely so as to re-
uuCc tue lIec W IucIc stuiup IO secure Il
healthy continued growth, the branches must be
reduced in a corresponding ratio with the reduc-
ton of the root. 1t is roots, then, and not soil
that ought to be removed; and the roots can best
be traced and secured when both the soil and the
air are free of frost. In any case success will
mostly depend upon the discriminate pruning of
the branches, and this must be left to the !judg-
ment of a competent and experienced planter.
During the progress of removal he will acquaint
himself with the probable degree of root mutila-
ton, he will also recognize the kind, age, and
health of tree operated upon, and these factors
will have special influence in controlling the
future management of. and care to be given to,
the plant. Occasionally, We meet with instances
where success is all that could be desired, and
that too, in the absence Of any special knowl-
edge of the matters involved; but such instances
are not to be taken as infallible precedents; all
practice not founded upon principle is empirical
it may be successful because it may by chance be
in accordance with natural laws but this being
and not recognized no continuance of
success can be ensured and all future efforts are
involved in uncertainty.