THE FORMATION OF FORESTS 127 
In the case of some plants great care is not neces- 
sary, but with a few which are delicate it is unsafe to 
disturb the roots at all. In this case ball-planting is 
necessary—that is, the plant and earth together in a 
block or ball must be removed. 
When the roots are free from earth they must be 
kept in a paint of mud. In transporting trees nur- 
serymen often puddle them—that is, they dip the 
roots in a paint of water and clay. This clings to the 
roots and prevents drying. | 
On the tract of the New York College of Forestry 
the writer has found the following method to be very 
satisfactory. When done carefully and in favorable 
weather, 80 per cent live: 
One set of men are supplied with grub-hoes. 
Another set (boys will do if available) are supplied 
with galvanized-iron pails. In these pails a few inches 
of water is put. The pail is then carefully filled with 
two-year-old plants from the nursery, placed so that 
all their roots are well covered with water. 
The men are then lined up in pairs, one planter 
and one grubber. The grubber grubs a soft place 
eighteen inches in diameter. The grub-hoes are well 
sharpened before Jeaving the blacksmith shop each 
morning, because it never pays to work with dull tools, 
and the grub-hoe must be often used to cut mats of 
roots. As soon as the grubber has grubbed the earth 
