6o TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



apparent growth. In October 191 1, I measured the growth 

 every plant has made since they were planted, and found the 

 average growth to be as follows : — 



At the same time I lifted an average plant in each plot and 

 got them photographed. In Nos. i and 2 there is the typical 

 bending of the root to one side, although not to such an extent 

 as one sometimes sees. In Nos. 3 and 4 there was apparent the 

 " pancaking " which is typical of planting with a straight spade 

 or flat dibble (but this does not show, as it is at right angles to 

 the line on the photograph). In Nos. 5 and 6 the root develop- 

 ment is certainly better than in the others, being free from their 

 defects, although No. 5 is somewhat spoiled by having been 

 against a stone on the left side. 



During the first season the plants established themselves and 

 made much the same growth in each case, but it will be noticed 

 that during the second season, in each case, the plants which had 

 their roots cut grew more than the corresponding ones which 

 had not been cut, and also that the root development is better, 

 there being a thicker mass of fibrous roots. 



The conclusion I draw from this experiment is a confirmation 

 of the opinion I had already formed ; namely, that it does no 

 harm to a young tree to cut off about one-third of the length of 

 the root, that this shortening of the root undoubtedly makes it 

 easier to plant, whatever tool is used, and further, that the 

 German semi-circular spade is the best, being about as ex- 

 peditious as notching with an ordinary spade, while it works well 

 even on stony ground such as we have here. 



