TRANSPLANTING EVERGREES FROM THE FOREST. 189 
the degree of success or failure very largely depends upon the 
manner of digging, handling and planting; and also largely upon 
the size of the trees to be transplanted. 
It is almost a useless waste of time to undertake the transplanting 
of large forest evergreens. In the taking up of large trees very 
many more roots will becutand mutilated than when young seed. 
ling trees are properly dug (not pulled). 
In the gathering and handling of small evergreen seedlings from 
the forest, needful preparations of the proper material with which 
to keep their roots moist must always be made; not only that, but 
great care must be exercised that their tiny hair-roots are never ex- 
posed to the drying influences of sunand wind; an even and contin- 
ual moisture must be maintained about their roots from the time they 
are lifted out of their natural bed to the time when they are planted 
back into the ground, or there is no further value in the young trees 
for transplanting. 
You will pardon me if I relate a personal experience that I had 
several years ago in procuring evergreen seedlings from the forests 
of northern Minnesota. I went June Ist by railroad to Duluth, and, 
on arrival in the morning, went directly back from the lake one-half 
to three-fourths of a mile up among the granite rocks and ever- 
green swamps prospecting for seedlings,and found an abundance 
of young arbor vitae three to ten inches high. These were growing 
along the margins of little pools of water full of moss, so the means 
for protecting their tiny roots when dug was close at hand. From 
nine, A. M. to five P. M.,a helper and I dug, packed in shallow boxes 
and wheeled in a wheelbarrow to the depot, eighteen thousand small 
evergreens. I took them by express that night directly to Minne- 
apolis. On arrival I stored them in a close, damp room until men 
and boys had time io sort into proper sizes, keeping their roots well 
protected from the drying air. Having prepared the ground by 
plowing and leveling, we commenced planting at once in five foot 
beds with the rows six to eight inches and the plants two to four 
inches apart. After planting, the beds were well sprinkled to settle 
the soil about the roots, and stakes were driven along the edges two 
feet high, upon the tops of which fence boards were nailed, and on 
these lath and brush were laid for shading. Ninety-five per cent 
of these trees lived and madea good growth the first season. These 
trees were not transplanted again for two years, when choosing a 
damp, cloudy day, they were carefully dug and planted in fresh 
made furrows in the open ground without shade, and the night 
following there came a heavy rain, and nearly every tree grew. 
Thus you see the work from the first lifting of the trees in the woods 
to the time of finishing the work in the open ground was well per- 
formed under the most favorable conditions, and, consequently, the 
loss from drying was very small. 
