PERHAPs some of your readers may think that enough has been written upon this subject, especially those that are aware of the amount of valuable information that has of late years been given through the cultural press, but when we consider that thousands are annually directing their attention for the first time to rural affairs, who have never read a page on the subject, and that there is still much to be learned even by the most experienced; interchange of observations and ideas is a necessary stimulus for our mutual advantage, as well as proving highly ben-eficial to all who need instruction.

Many experienced and successful cultivators are deterred, or at all events excuse themselves for not giving publicity to their knowledge, on the grounds that they cannot offer anything new, but the record of experience and facts is always valuable, as corroborative of good or bad results. It is indeed difficult to offer new principles, foreven with the unquestionable advantages derived from chemistry, and the physiological investigations of scientific men, during the last twenty years, we have not much improved in tree culture over our forefathers. In a work now before me, bearing date 1785, the whole process of rearing, planting, and managing trees is treated as clearly, concisely, and in as practical a manner as can be offered now. In his introductory remarks, the author is equally to the point; he says, " We beg to caution the planter in the strongest terms against a want of spirit. A slovenly planter ranks among the most extravagant order of slovens; the labor, the plants, and the ground are thrown away.

We therefore advise all such as have not industry, spirit and perseverance to go through with what they undertake, to let it alone; and we recommend to such as are possessed of these valuable qualifications, to begin upon a small scale and let their operations increase with their experience.

"Whilst, however, we caution against entering prematurely upon the business of planting, we cannot refrain from mentioning the pleasures which result from it. How rational, and to a contemplative mind how delightful, to observe the operations of nature; to trace her in every stage, from the seed to the perfected plant, and, from beneath the leaf stalk of this, through the flower buds, the flower, and the seed vessel, to the seed again. Man must be employed, and how more agreeably than in conversing with nature, and in seeing her works, assisted by his own hands, rising into perfection.

"Nor do we mean to hold out pleasure alone as an inducement to planting, its profits are great, when properly executed, and this idea adds solidity to the enjoyment. Pleasure alone may satiate; but profit and pleasure united, seldom fail in producing a lasting gratification.

"There is another incitement to planting which alone has been held out as a sufficient inducement. We are sorry to confess however, that we know too much of mankind to believe that patriotism, unaided by personal interest, will ever produce a supply of timber for marine or other national purposes. Far be it from us, however fashionable it may be, to speak irreverently of patriotism - we consider it as the noblest attribute of the human mind. Young men, to whom we more particularly address ourselves, are seldom without some share of it, and we flatter ourselves that this virtuous principle, assisted by the pleasure, the profit, and the popularity which attends planting, will induce the young men of the present age to study and practise it, not more for themselves than for future generations".

The practical advice in the body of the book, shows very conclusively, that however much we have gained in knowledge with regard to the principles of cultivation, our improvement in practice has been very trifling.

The most fitting season for transplanting trees, has long been one of the "vexed questions" in Horticulture. Difference of opinion with regard to successful cultivation, could, in most cases perhaps, be reconciled, were the whole facts and cir-cumstanoes connected with them clearly produced. But these are items difficult to obtain.

The influencing agents of vegetation are subject to such a vast variety of modifications, which can neither be foreseen nor prevented, that no single observation, however truthfully expounded, will suffice as a guide for the establishment of definite rules.

Reasoning on theory alone, we are led to the conclusion that autumn is the beet time to remove trees. A plant cannot be taken out of the ground without necessarily injuring its roots more or less. In consequence thereof, of thus destroying the balance that existed between the branches and roots, the latter are not able to support the stem, and this decrease in power will be proportionate to the extent of mutilation the roots have received.

But there are certain seasons when the roots are less important to the life of a plant They are most essential when the tree is in full foliage and vigorous growth, and their destruction at this period would speedily show diminished growth. When the leaves have fallen, perspiration is less active, and the roots are not so important. It is thus evident that the proper time to plant is between the fall of the leaves in autumn, and the bursting of the buds into growth in spring, or, during what is termed the dormant season. Now, a tree is as completely dormant immediately on the fall of the leaves as at any other period, unless perhaps during severe frosts; the sooner therefore the roots are disturbed after this change, the longer time will be given them to repair the injury, and heal over at the wounded parts before the cessation of root growth.

There is another circumstance that I have long considered as influencing the season of planting, viz: the relative temperature of the atmosphere and the soil.

Some years ago I took daily readings of two thermometers, one being buried eighteen inches in the soil, and the other hanging four feet above the surface. In the month of October, the soil avervged 10 degrees warmer than the air, a condition most favorable for newly planted trees; the increased heat of the soil over that of the atmosphere tending to the formation of roots, the branches being in a colder and less excitable medium remain comparatively inactive, and the plant recovers to a certain extent the balance destroyed in the loss of roots by removal. On the other hand, the temperature of the atmosphere and the soil in spring is completely reversed, the former increasing rapidly in heat while the soil absorbs warmth slowly, the branches are thus excited in advance of the roots, leaves are produced which increases the evil by exhausting the plant, which as yet has no roots to supply that demand; hence we frequently observe spring-planted trees coming out into leaf, and be in apparent health, wither up suddenly under the influence of a few bright, warm days.

Further advantages might be claimed in favor of fall-planting, on account of the superior hygrometrical state of the air, which in general contains more moisture than during early spring months, when we frequently experience dry, piercing winds, highly destructive to the roots of plants subject to its influence.

The disadvantages of fall-planting may now be considered. In the first place, unless it is done early to allow a new root formation before frost, no gain can be derived from it. In this locality, from the first to the middle of October is the period. Large trees that can be removed and planted at once, may very safely be operated upon as soon as the leaves change color. This I consider the best time for such removals. Then again, should the ground to be planted contain much water, it will soon become cold, not only retarding root growth, but endangering the life of the tree during the inactive winter season. Further, should we have high winds in spring, with the thermometer in the neighborhood of zero, as occurred for several successive days last March, the plants will be dried up or the buds destroyed. I have this day, (August 25th,) examined trees planted the middle of last October, which have not produced a single leaf so far this season, the bark is quite fresh and green, but the buds are all destroyed.

Even those that have grown are making slow progress, compared with others in the same situation that were planted last April.

Some kinds are more hardy than others; I have always found the Peach, Apple, Quince, and Pear on Quince, among fruit, and the Maples, Poplars, Willows, etc., among ornamental trees, succeed best in spring-planting; while the Cherry, Plum, and Pear, Oaks, Hickories, Walnuts, Chesnuts, etc., are more generally successful, when moved in autumn.

These remarks apply so far to deciduous trees. Evergreens should be removed in spring. They may be removed at all seasons with success, if proper care is taken to save most of the roots ; the season seems unimportant. I have moved large sized Norway and Hemlock Firs in July, when the ground was baked hard and dry, taking up large balls of earth, and watering thoroughly after planting. I have also seen successful planting on what is termed the frozen-ball system in mid-winter. But leaving aside specialities, we will find that evergreens removed during the last half of the month of April and on through May, will seldom tail even in the hands of the merest novice in tree-planting.

Evergreens are more liable to be destroyed in winter than deciduous plants. Their foliage presents a large, evaporating surface, which must be supported by roots. The past winter was more than usually severe here ; few evergreens that were removed last fall survived, every leaf being stripped of Norway and hemlock spruces, and Arbor-vitaes browned past recovery, while those that I planted the last of May have suecceded almost without a failure.