i8o Care in Planting Trees 



intact, filling the ditch with rich garden mold or loam, 

 and keeping it well watered. At the same time the tree 

 must be suitably braced, and proportionately cut back. 

 New feeding roots will be established in the rich mold. 

 Within a season or two the tree is ready for transplanting 

 with a compact root system. It is then best taken uj) with 

 a ball of earth, leaving the new roots undisturbed and, 

 where practicable, freezing the ball of earth around them. 

 In setting such trees, secure bracing is one of the main points, 

 so as to avoid swaying by the winds. 



It is sometimes possible to find large trees fit for transplant- 

 ing under such conditions as to make the preparation just 

 described unnecessary, and to permit taking up practically 

 the entire natural root system, just as from a nursery bed, 

 and to transplant with naked roots. But this requires still 

 greater care, and since in moving very large trees a consider- 

 able amount of mechanical apparatus for safe transporta- 

 tion is required in order to prevent injuries, special wagons 

 being ]jatented for the purpose, this is altogether a piece 

 of work to be entrusted to a specialist, although by keeping 

 in mind tree physiology as explained, there is no difficulty 

 in it. Increased care not to expose the roots to the air is 

 required for conifers, and in these, success can only be ex- 

 pected with small sizes, or with medium sizes when the 

 roots can be kept in continuous soil envelope. 



Altogether, the use of large trees is ad\isable only in rare 

 cases; it is expensive and uncertain in results at best, 

 although some experts seem to be more than usually 

 successful.' 



Perhaps a few words regarding spacing of trees, in addi- 

 tion to what has been said in regard to spacing of street 



1 See Isaac Hicks & Son, Westbury Station, N. V., and Peterson Nurs 

 cry Co., Chicago, who make a specialty of transplanting large trees. 



