Evening star., 1949-05-29

sAktns over wooded AgeAA where
much ehosce native plant material
inrgyes- II x~ wsso love tgves, row-
ers and shrubs which enhance TIE
wish - preserve Iaesn.
xe must ~cosleet ex.crs tsse bull
oosers take over.
This may mean t-afssssaantsns
at ether than iax dormant seasca-
At tns same time II .s vel 70
bear In mind that both Maryland
and Virginia have lAws rgossiass-
Ing the taking ot native plant ma
terial from private property
without perrn.ssaon-aSd from
public property.
As . seneral rule. wil6ac~ers
have q dormant perioe Ii which
they may be moved with safety
There arc excep;Acns--ferns may
be moved at almost any time CA
ceps. perhaps. when the ffards
are unfolding Then they are brit
tie and subject 10 injury by hTsiis-
ting. II Is admitted that II We ea-
ercise sufficient care, most kinds
Of plants may be moved Al almost
any season Of the year, Under the
circumstances we are justified In
trying.
One Of the most common mis-
takes made in moving wildlsnss Is
that the collector fails to note the
habitat. Were they gro~itag in
sun or Snadef Was the sosl moist.
wet. or dry In what type Of soil
were they growing, sand. clay,
grayel1 These are important
points to note when mosias Wild
flowers from woods or field. Try
to give plants the same kind OF q
situation as that in which they
normally thrive.
There are a few points 10 re-
member when moving plants
wildlings nearly always have
strageiy root systems, whereas the
nurseryman takes care 10 de-
velop compact root systens This
means that in digging q native We
should expect It's roots TO extend
much farther than they do under
cultivation and 90 avoid cutting
of any more roots than necessary
A 3 or 4 foot redhud may have
roots which extend out Z. 5. or
more feet.
Whenever lifting q wiidnower 1t
is wise to take a substantial ball
OF soil. This will avoid damaging
the roots and. fully as important,
1t will help to prevent the plant
from drying out before it Is re-
planted In the garden. Always
note how deeply the plant was
growing. Try to replant at the
same depth.
Lift the smaller sized plants.
They Withstand transplanting
much better than do the larser
sizes. It Is good practice to look
for strays rather than to try To
pluck one out Of the middle OF 4
large ciump. Thus you win avoid
injuring others while setting out
the one which may not have had q
chance TO develop q compact root
system.
Professional collectors normally
90 prepared. II you would save
the plants you are trying 10 sal
wage IL is wise 10 use the same
precautions. Wet spaghnum or
peat moss Ia excellent material to
protect the root systems. News
papers may be used TO wrap the
tops OF plants. burlap oagains
may be used for shrubs and trees.
Take q spadins fork or shovel.
tools which are adequate for the
Job.
Protect Frem DryinG.
Not only should the wildlins Be
protected from drying while en-
route to the new home. but every
precaution should be taken after
arrival TO see that its vitality h
not destroyed. Water and store
In q suitable situation until .
proper planting hole can be pre-
pared. Remember that tree roots
In Q shady situation viii need TO
be removed for competing roots
can be fatal TO the native which
Is trying to recover from the shock
Of moving.
The new planting hole ahouid
be Of ample sire; one that can Be
partially filled with soil taken Ut
the time Of collecting. This Ia
especially important II the plant
ing ID to be done close 70 the
foundation OF q building. Most
Of our natives grow in q soil that