282 



TRANSPLANTING AND PLANTING. 



off close to the stem, to the height of six or seven feet from the collar ; 

 the top is also cut off in a slanting direction, at about ten feet from the 

 roots ; and the remaining branches are shortened to from three to six 

 inches, the cut being made close above a bud. The trees are taken up 

 in November or December. The first year they grow but little ; the 

 second year they may be said to commence their growth, when the 

 uppermost shoot is trained for the leader. As the tree progresses, it is 

 pruned every year, if necessary, in winter or early in spring, cutting out 

 all the cross and unequal branches, and thinning those that are or may 

 become crowded. It may be thought that trees treated in this manner 

 would all become round-headed, and that they would only have about 

 ten feet of straight timber ; but this does not necessarily follow, unless 

 that form be really desired. On the contrary, the straightest and 

 most beautifully attenuated timber is obtained by training the upper 

 shoot in time to a stick tied to the stem ; or if the uppermost shoot is 

 emitted a few inches below the summit, which is sometimes the case, 

 it may be tied to the dying point, till it is fixed in an unchangeable erect 

 position. This is one of the cheapest and safest modes of transplanting 

 trees in exposed, bleak situations in Britain, more especially on the 

 sea- coast and in mountainous districts. 



The staking or supporting of newly-transplanted trees, and the pro- 

 tection of their stems from cattle, require to be carefully attended to ; 



and we shall therefore shortly notice the 

 different modes of doing both. Fig. 251 

 shows the common modes of protecting 

 trees which are to have clear stems to 

 the height of eight or ten feet, from deer, 

 horses, or cattle, the main posts being 

 made of oak or of larch, or of any other 

 wood, charred on the part which is buried 

 in the soil, and for nine inches or a foot 

 above the surface of the ground. Circular 

 cradles of iron, made in two semicircles, 

 bolted together, are now mostly used 

 instead of wood. They are lighter, more 

 elegant and durable, and in the 

 which grow with their lower branches 



Fig. 251. 



The most general modes of pro- 

 tecting recently -planted &' 

 trees from cattle and deer. 



end cheapest. For trees 

 sweeping on the ground, such as cedars, pines, silver firs, &c., circles 

 of iron hurdles fastened together with bolts and nuts should be em- 

 ployed, enlarging the circle as the branches extend themselves, by 

 introducing additional hurdles. These hurdles being always only a few 

 feet from the branches, are scarcely perceptible at a very short dis- 

 tance, and therefore are no deformity in the landscape. Small trees, 

 with the branches on, may be tied to stakes with bands of hay, and 

 their stems protected with thorns or furze tied on. Trees of thirty or 

 forty feet in height may be supported by guy ropes ; or if the roots 

 are strong and of some length, they may be kept in their places by 

 horizontal poles placed over them, and tied to them, concealed under, 

 or level with, or immediately above the surface of the ground ; the ends 



