miniature water course — tlie drain — and attract thither the 

 feeding rootlets. 



Wlien the tree is transphmted, its growtli is dependent in large 

 measure on the physical condition of the soil and the aniou'nt of 

 water present. Examine the roots of upturned forest trees, ^hey 

 are often shallow because the subsoil is hard and l)ecause there is 



usually an abundance of food and 

 moisture near the surface. For 

 this reason forest fires burnins: the 

 ground litter (forest floor), often 

 lay l)are the roots of great trees 

 (see Fig. 4). In hard soil tlie roots 

 of a tree may be confined to a vary 

 limited area for some time, bv the 

 planter digging a small hole. In 

 planting an orchard is this wisdom ? 

 Gardeners grow large plants very 

 successfully in comparatively small 

 pots, but they take care to sup})ly 

 the plant with an abundance of- 

 availal)le plant-food. The farmer 

 flnds it cheaper to prepare desirable 

 root pasturage by flning and pul- 

 verizing the soil. Try growing carrots or parsnips on hard unstirred 

 soil and compare the product with that grown on deep loam. 

 "What about the character of the roots in such cases ? 



Stem. — The stem must be preserved intact and healthy in order 

 to facilitate the passage of food both ways. It is the connecting 

 link between the roots and the crown. To the forester the bole 

 (trunk) is the most important part. The larger, longer and cleaner 

 the bole the more valuable is the tree ; in other words, the more 

 luml)er can be gotten out of it. To the fruit-grower, the stem is 

 important because it supports tlie crown, and the crown ])roduces 

 the fruit. AVithout a strong column upon which to build the crown, 

 a good top frame-work cannot be secured. If a block or section is 

 sawed from an aj^ple tree stem, we will observe, beginning at the 



358 



5. — xi pear stem. The bark begins to 

 roughen. 



