The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-11-02
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN,
or INTEREST TO FARMERS, DAIRY
MEN AND STOCK BREEDERS.

A Common Sense Talk About Tree Plant
ing-Points in Transplanting Conditions
That Must Decide Whether II Is Best
to Plant in Fall or Spring.
Thomas Meehan, one Of Pennsylva-
MAS foremost horticulturists, finds in
his practice, as must every observing
planter, that there is really no best
time to plant trees anywhere" Local
circumstances must guide the planter,
and these local circumstances will vary
from year to year. There are seasons
when we would never think of planting
in August or September, or even in Oc-
tober if we could help tive should
leave all we could till spring, and we
have seen many spring when we hearth
ly wished that we had done great deal
more in the fall than was DONE
The authority referred to tells in Coun-
ing may be insured. He says: Success
depends on number of incidents. A
transplanted tree is in the nature of a
cutting. The roots taken with the tree
are not of very great importance in them
selves. The biggest mass of fibrous roots
to any tree is of no material consequence,
unless it throws out at once young white
fibers with root hairs. 1t is no uncom-
mon event that hemlock spruce with
matted roots are the first to die. 1t is
often more difficult to get earth in among
a mass of fibers, than where the mass is
thinner. The new root fibers do not
push well unless in immediate contact
be. Experience shows that these new
fiters push out more rapidly in August
and September than in any other time
Of the year in the vicinity of Philadel-
phia. 1t has been already noted that a
transplanted tree is of the nature of a
cutting-it certainly loses moisture by
evaporation. The only art in transplant.
ing is to guard against excessive evapor-
alton, until the new root fibers are freely
formed Now, if August and September
are very hot or dry, we lose by evapora-
ton what we gain by rapidity of new
made roots.
One can readily see from this that
there can be no general answer to the
question whether it is best to plant in
fall OF spring. or early or late in any one
seasoti-whether tree should be pruned
at transpanting or left with all its
branches whether the leaves should
be left on at transplanting or all or many
taken off. A locality exposed to keen,
cutting. cold north winds in fall and
winter would be unfavorable to fall
planting; the moisture evaporates too
readily. On the other hand, a locality
in which a hot, drying sun will follow
Immediately after spring planting will
be bad for that season, for again evapora-
ton is too great.
What is the best time for planting,
then, each one must decide for himself.
The best time to plant is when the roots
will push out their new white hair tipped
fibers the most rapidly, and when ex-
cessive evaporation is at the same time
likely to be under the best control. This
may be the spring in many localities. In
other localities the conditions will be
best secured in fall. All of this is, of
course, chiefly for the amateur or for
the nurseryman in managing his own
planting. 1t is not safe to send trees
long distances on these ventures. The
nurseryman must have his regular sea-
son for digging-about the fall of the
leaf in the autumn and as soon as the
frost is out of the ground in spring.