TAKING UP TREES PROM THE NURSERY. 169 



of the fibrous roots has been already explained. It has 

 been shown that they are the principal absorbing parts of 

 the roots, and when they are destroyed, the tree receives a 

 great shock, from which it requires good treatment and a 

 long time to recover. There is a great difference in the 

 character of roots, some penetrating the ground to a great 

 depth, and requiring much labor in the removal, others 

 quite fibrous near the surface, and consequently very 

 easily taken up. This difference is not owing alone to 

 the difference in the species, but to whether the subjects 

 have or have not been frequently transplanted. The way 

 to take up a tree properly is to dig a trench 011 each side, 

 at the extremities of the lateral or spreading roots, taking 

 care that the edge, and not the face of the spade, be kept 

 next the tree, so that the roots will not be cut off. When 

 this trench is so deep as to be below all the lateral roots, 

 a slight pull, and a pry on each side with the spade, will 

 generally bring out the tree. If there be strong tap- 

 roots, running down to a great depth, they may be cut 

 with a stroke of the spade. Laborers who have not been 

 accustomed to the work, invariably perform it badly ; and 

 it is difficult to get it properly done, even \ > 



by experienced hands. It is a work requir- X. / 

 ing care and leisure, though it is usually jp 



w 



95. WIRED 



performed slovenly, and in great haste. 



Labelling. When a tree, or a number of 

 trees, of any variety are taken up, a label, 

 with the name written on it, should at once 

 be attached. The kind of label used in the 

 nurseries here is a piece of pine, about three 

 and a half inches long, three-fourths of an "LABEL FOR' 

 inch wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick. 

 A neck is made on one end by cutting into each 

 edge about an eighth of an inch ; a piece of No. 26 

 copper wire, about seven or eight inches long, is then 

 fastened in the middle, on the neck of the label, witlj 

 8 



