REMOVING AND TRANSPLANTING TREES. 85 



ped in the bud by stern winter's frost. There are few op- 

 erations in our husbandry in which so much want of reflec- 

 tion, not to say gross and willful neglect, is displayed as in 

 the transplanting of trees, whether for fruit or ornament. 

 It must, however, be admitted that in this, as in all other 

 branches of rural industry, great improvement has taken 

 place within the last thirty or forty years, since agricultur- 

 ists commenced to read and reason on the principles that 

 are involved and brought into action and practice of every 

 branch of their business, as well as in the manufacturing of 

 leather, iron, or any other article. Roots of trees usually 

 strike downward instead of upward; and nearly all kinds 

 of trees, whether fruit or forest trees, send out a system of 

 roots just below the surface of the ground. If we exam- 

 ine the forest-trees unless they are standing on a very 

 loose and porous soil we find that, although the top-roots 

 of trees may strike several feet deep in the earth, there is a 

 system of numerous roots near the surface of the earth, on 

 which the trees depend almost entirely for sustenance. Let 

 earth be hauled and placed around a flourishing tree, a foot 

 or more in depth, and that tree will soon send out a sys- 

 tem of roots all around it near the surface of the soil. It 

 is absolutely essential that all the interstices among the 

 roots be well filled, settling the fine earth, if need be, by 

 pouring in water. If large cavities are left the frost may 

 destroy them. This is the reason that some persons have 

 been unsuccessful in keeping trees through winter. 



Suggestions to be observed when Transplanting Trees. 

 Beginners in fruit-culture will do well to read over the fol- 

 lowing concise rules, until they thoroughly understand the 

 correct theory and practice of transplanting any kind of 

 trees or vines : 



1. When a tree is taken up, endeavor to take at least one- 

 twentieth part of the small roots. The practice usually is 



