THE CHESTNUT. 81 



In transplanting from the nursery rows, after graft- 

 ing, and especially if the trees are of some considerable 

 size and large enough to set where they are to remain 

 permanently, there is sure to be a loss of roots, and 

 those that are preserved are likely to remain for a short 

 time inactive and incapable of absorbing nutrients from 

 the soil to which they are transferred, or until new root- 

 lets are produced. Under these conditions we aim to 

 favor the roots by removing or cutting back the greater 

 part of the branches. No matter how carefully such 

 trees are lifted and their roots protected during the 

 operation of transplanting, it will check the growth, 

 and the best and most practical restorative is severe 

 pruning of the top, and every young shoot of the previ- 

 ous season's growth should be cut back to within three 

 or four inches of its base. I am presuming that the 

 trees have been grafted only one year, but if older, and 

 the cions were set high enough to begin the formation of 

 the head of the tree, then the entire young growth may 

 be cut away and some of the older wood, but of course 

 not below the graft. All broken roots must be cut off ; 

 and the ends of the larger ones, roughly severed with 

 the spade or other implements employed in digging, 

 should have their wounds smoothed with a sharp knife. 



Frequent transplanting and root-pruning young 

 nursery stock tends to keep up a proper root system, 

 and an abundance of small fibrous roots near the main 

 stem, and trees so treated are worth much more, if to be 

 transplanted later, than those left undisturbed ; but 

 while the latter may be twice the size of the former 

 when of the same age, they are not worth half as much 

 to the purchaser, or for transplanting in our own 

 grounds. 



Staking Transplanted Trees. This is always 

 necessary for recently planted trees, if they are of any 

 considerable size, or from six feet high and upwards. 

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