60 THE WOOD. 



tance of a few feet from it, cutting quite through 

 every large root that presents itself. The con- 

 sequence is, that the tree, no longer nourished by 

 its remote rootlets, is checked in its growth, and 

 immediately provides itself with a remedy. To 

 supply the loss, it sends out from the parts that 

 remain, new rootlets, all of which are of necessity 

 very close together, and if likely to become en- 

 tangled with each other and the surrounding earth, 

 so much the better. After having been allowed 

 to stand in this state for a year or two, it is under- 

 mined, and may be removed to any distance, bear- 

 ing with it the newly-formed rootlets undisturbed; 

 for they are enclosed in a mass of soil, which is 

 carried with them, protecting them from injury 

 during the removal, and supplying them with 

 nourishment until the tree is become permanently 

 fixed in its new habitation, when they increase in 

 size, and in time supply the place of the great 

 roots which are left behind. 



I have said that, as a general rule, the roots of a 

 tree stretch as far from the trunk under ground 

 as the branches do above. If this be the case, it 

 will follow that trees, such as you frequently see 

 standing alone in a field or lawn, which are not 

 very lofty, but extend their branches far and wide, 

 are furnished with equally spreading roots. You 

 can recollect, I am sure, some favourite tree, the 

 branches of which reached to a great distance from 

 the bole or main stem, and so low that you could 

 easily climb into them, and find a comfortable 

 shady seat. Now, if you will take the trouble to 

 recollect the spot where this grew, you will remem- 

 ber either that it was in a field, or that there was 

 at least an open space in the direction in which 



