PRU^TIXG FOREST TREES. 67 



evergreens after active growth has commenced, the rajjid 

 evai^oratioa of moisture from the new shoots may in a 

 measure bs prevented by giving the tree shade. An old 

 cloth, or the branches of other trees set around each one, 

 will serve the purpose, and often be the means of saving 

 the transplanted trees. Watering overhead is also very 

 beneficial, for the same reason, and operates to check 

 undue loss of moisture through the foliage and smaller 

 branches. Evergreens that have been so frequently 

 moved in the nursery that their roots form a solid ball, 

 can, of course, be removed safely at almost any season, 

 but such trees must be considered as exceptions. In all 

 cool climates there are frequent showers during the spring 

 months, and with the increasing heat of the sun, and an 

 atmosphere laden with moisture, all nature awakes from 

 its long slumber in a condition to recuperate, after hav- 

 ing been disturbed or checked in its progress; hence it is 

 the safest and best season in which to transplant trees of 

 all kinds. 



CHAPTER X. 



PRUNING FOREST TREES. 



All kinds of forest trees may be, and nearly all should 

 be pruned at the time of transplanting. As it is almost 

 if not quite impossible to take up a tree without destroy- 

 ing a portion of the roots, or at least disturbing them, 

 it is vvell to reduce the number or length of the branches 

 to fully compensate for any loss sustained by the roots. 

 It is also better to prune away more wood than is actually 

 necessary for the safety of the trees, than to fall short of 

 removing enough ; for a few buds and leaves, fully sup- 

 plied with nutriment, are worth far more to the tree, 

 than a large number kept feeble for the want of it. I am 



