202 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



must have a long- stem in black raspberries. If, when they set them 

 out, they would cut off that stem it would be better, but that seems 

 to be the idea that they must have a long- stem on the black rasp- 

 berry and blackberry root. They want something they can see. If 

 the nurserymen would cut them right ofif and they would take care 

 of the vine, they would have better success. This long stem is going- 

 to take more nourishment than the root can supplj^, and the vitality 

 is going to be exhausted. That is what I meant when I said pruning- 

 should be done at the top. I would take it off the strawberry and 

 the raspberry, and I would do it particularly on the evergreen. I 

 would take off one-half of the evergreen. 



Mr. J. S. Harris: I have set a good many trees, and I have never 

 found anything wrong with plenty of roots, but I would rather have 

 one long root than a lot of those little roots. I think Mr. Pearce 

 places too much confidence in the work of the pocket gopher. You 

 may take the tops and roots off your trees so they look like a crow- 

 bar, and they may grow and make as good a growth as long-rooted 

 trees, but, as a rule, I would get a tree with long roots. If the roots 

 are spoiled in transplanting, you want to cut them back. 

 Mr. Pearce: How far would you cut them back? 



Mr. Harris: I would like to have the hole three feet in diameter; 

 the roots about eighteen inches long. 



Mr. J. O. Barrett: I am getting a treat in this discussion. I have 

 had considerable experience in planting trees, and a great deal of 

 inquiry comes to me in connection with rny position from people 

 in regard to planting trees, and I have made it a rule always to bal- 

 ance the roots with the branches and foliage and give the prepond- 

 erance, if possible, to the roots every time. I dislike to cut the top 

 of a tree back if can reserve enough of the roots of the tree to 

 balance it. The leaves form the lungs of the tree, and if you can 

 retain vitality in the top so it leaves well and get strong lungs and 

 roots corresponding, your trees will live. It seems to me, judging- 

 from my experience, we should be careful how we prune the roots 

 in transplanting trees. The root has so-called invisible feeders, and 

 they are essential to the vitality of the tree. These feeders are at 

 the extremity of the roots; they protrude from the large roots, but 

 they are roots in themselves. Now, is it not common sense that the 

 larger amount of roots we can retain, the better is the safety of the 

 tree? It is very important, it seems to me, that we are careful in 

 making a decision, as it is of the greatest importance in planting 

 trees. It is not a theory, it is a well tried fact. My experience is to 

 balance the tree and be careful how you prune the roots- 

 Mr. Richardson: It is impossible to cut the roots all away. I put 

 down an underdrain last year near a Wealthy tree; I put it down 

 about six feet, and at that depth I found the roots as large as wheat 

 straws. I inadean experitnent this summer in top-working Virginia 

 crabs. I set them very deep and then cut them off two feet from the 

 top of the ground and then grafted them. They were a grand suc- 

 cess. The scion made a good growth and threw out new shoots 

 below. I have seen as nice an apple tree as I ever saw growing near 



