MEMOVJNG AXU TRANSPLANTING THEE 8. 101 



tap-root of every tree when it is to be transplanted, once 

 became so imperative, that some pomological writers even 

 went so far as to recommend placing a broad flat stone 

 beneath every tree, so that it could not reproduce another 

 tap-root. Most writers at the present day, and most nur- 

 serymen, will say : " By all means prune off the tap-root 

 close to the stem." But such a practice is a serious delu- 

 sion. Nature indicates, as has been already stated, that 

 most trees, shrubs, and plants will flourish most satisfac- 

 torily, endure longer, and be every way better when they 

 send a strong tap-root deep into the ground. And this 

 fact is more particularly true when the subsoil is so porous 

 that a long tap-root will readily strike downward as far as 

 the stem grows upward. Were it not a habit of the tree 

 or plant to send down such a tap-root, it would be advisa- 

 ble to cut it off. But many nurserymen will persist in cut- 

 ting this root off at all hazards ; because, they say, ten roots 

 will push out at the end of the stump where the tap-root 

 was severed, which will be more serviceable to the growth 

 of the tree. The office of the tap-root is to supply the 

 growing plant or tree with moisture in hot and dry weath- 

 er, when the surface-roots can not absorb one drop from 

 the soil. Cut off the bruised end, and encourage a tap-root 

 to grow on every tree and bush. (See p. 90, Fig. 46.) 



Lateral Extension of the Roots of full-grown Apple-trees. 

 If we could lift a large apple-tree with all its roots un- 

 broken from the earth, probably, to our great surprise, we 

 should see roots on every side reaching farther away, with 

 a thousan4 open mouths, than the entire extent of the long- 

 est branches. Tull found that common turnip-roots ex- 

 tended at least three or four feet from the plant ; and there 

 is no doubt that many weeds throw out their fibres quite 

 as far. A. J. Downing, in his directions for the manage- 

 ment and manuring of trees, indicated that the roots of 



