lyS Care in Planting Trees 



tran.si)orlation and setting out is more easily applied, the 

 small damage, if any, being more readily repaired. Yet, 

 but for unforeseen accidents, if all the care is used which 

 we have recommended, there is no reason why an experi- 

 enced tree-planter should not make a success of every trans- 

 plant as far as keeping it alive is concerned, especially if the 

 trees are properly prepared for transplanting (see below). 

 It must, however, not be overlooked that size means expense 

 and only he who does not shirk the latter can make sure of 

 success. Still, there are objections to transplanting very 

 large trees, in that a considerable amount of cutting back 

 must be done and it takes many years before the satisfactory 

 form is reestablished. Especially conifers, which, as a 

 rule, do not admit much pruning, are best planted in small 

 sizes unless they can be moved with a ball of earth. Yet 

 the writer knows of a case of successful moving of a whole 

 avenue of Norway spruce, thirty to forty feet in height, 

 without such precaution. 



As a rule, while for forest planting two- to five-year-old 

 plants are preferred, the street planter will wish to set trees 

 which have carried their crown above man-height or nearly 

 so, and the lawn planter may also best remain within these 

 limits. The transplanting of larger trees than eight to ten 

 feet at most in height is a specialty w'hich is better left to 

 experienced hands. It requires time (two or three days), 

 labor (eight to twelve men), and expense, which should not 

 be Hghtly undertaken, especially as it is doubtful in result. 

 It is best done with trees prepared for the operation. 



Large trees — the writer has transplanted centenarian 

 oaks successfully — may be and should be prepared for 

 the operation by digging a ditch, two or three feet wide, 

 around the tree at a distance proportionate to its size, cut- 

 ting through all the side roots, leaving the tap-root, if any, 



