Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1877 — Seerets of Transplanting. [ARTICLE]

Seerets of Transplanting.

A correspondent of the Germantown Telegraph gives some of the methods necessary to insure success in transplanting: A rule without an exception in transplanting is this: Place the roots in contact with aa much soil as possible. This is tery important with evergreen trees and’ all fine-rooted plants or vines, such as strawberries, raspberries, grapes, etc. It is uot enough that a nice place is prepared 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 a mass without earth between. This is es special importance in planting riursery-grown evergreens, as they are furnished with a 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 well when filling up about the roots, and still they may be flattened together so as to touch no soil except at the top and bottom. Water may be freely used, or the roots well 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 be separated and fine earth worked well 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 faf as they can be.

The annual loss In transplanting is very great, on account ot not observing the rule here set forth. Even professional gardeners, and those who pride themselves 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 hardiest of trees, and are almost certain to grow if properly handled. As transplanfing they are in full leaf, and of course more susceptible on that account to Injury from'drying than deciduous trees. Beside this,' the sap is resinous,’ and, if once' 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 well furnished with an abundance of fibrous ffibts. But those who plant trees from ttt« woods with but few roots, or carelessly let them dry while out of the ground, or transplant in such a way that the roots cannot draw sufficient moisture promptly from the earth, will be disappointed. If their trees do not die outright, they may make but a sickly growth that cannot he overcome for a number of years at best. In transplanting fine-rooted plants it is not only necessary that the roots be in contact 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 ,a}l 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 pirating fruit-trees the ends of the roots should be freshened with a smooth cust sloping from the underside. The bruised ends of the roots should be cutoff so the pores of the roots may come in contact with the soil and the more readilv draw moisture than is possible through the obetructed pores of the. bruised root endfe as they come from the nurseries. This often makes the difference between success and failure. Lastly, after planting, mulch at once, or keep the surface soil always in good tilth, mal moisture at the roots may always be sufficient, even in times of drought.