156 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I think it is very important, in transplanting a tree, to take 

 great pains in taking it up. Dig a hole all around it, so as 

 not to cut off the ends of the little radicles ; these are the 

 things that give life to the tree ; it is not the great roots. 

 The great roots merely support these little radicles, and send 

 them out^ Take care to dig the hole so far from the trunk 

 of the tree that you may preserve all these little radicles. 

 Then take up as large a body of earth as you can, to keep the 

 little rootlets together. 



Col. Salton STALL. Perhaps my experience in transplanting 

 will give an answer to the question which has been asked. 

 As you know, sir, I have transplanted a great many trees. 



Mr. Emekson. Yes, sir; and I know with what perfect 

 success. 



Col. Saltonstall. I took a hillside, without a tree upon 

 it, except a few old apple-trees. I not only transplanted 

 trees from the forest, but I imported from England, seven- 

 teen years ago, at a cost of two cents apiece, a large number 

 of trees, American as well as European. They were little 

 things, a few inches high. I put them in a nursery, not 

 larger than that platform. My hillside is now almost a forest. 

 I cut down every year firewood enough for consumption in 

 ray open fireplace, in the necessary thinning out of those 

 trees. I have transplanted trees at all seasons, — winter, 

 summer, autumn and spring. 



Mr. Emerson. Could you transplant trees with large 

 leaves in summer? 



Col. Saltonstall. A tree cannot be transplanted with 

 the leaves upon it, unless it has been transplanted at the 

 proper season for three successive years. The main roots 

 having been trimmed closely, and the tap-root having been 

 removed, it will have a mass of little roots, like a plant in 

 a flower-pot. I have transplanted hickories with success, — 

 perhaps the most difficult of any of our forest trees to trans- 

 plant. It is a very sensitive tree, and makes very few 

 radicle roots. It sends down a strong, sturdy tap-root, so 

 that, unless it has been taken very young from the forest, and 

 this tap-root taken off, and is transplanted at the proper time, 

 I think it is impossible to transplant it successfully. I have 

 gone into the woods on the other side of my hill, where they 



