122 PLANTING. 



roots, than when placed at a distance from the 

 tree ; and the stakes should be made fast to the 

 stem of the plant, by a piece of straw or hay rope, 

 or by a piece of twisted matting, or any kind of 

 cord ; the part of the stem to which the stake is 

 tied, having previously had a small handful of 

 straw, or moss, or mat, bound round it, to prevent 

 the tie from galling the bark of the stem, and pre- 

 venting its increase during summer. These stakes 

 should remain for a year, or sometimes two years, 

 according to the size of the plant and its facility 

 of making roots. In general, the sooner the stakes 

 are taken away the better ; because the motion of 

 the stem by the wind, is essential to its increasing 

 in thickness. In this matter much must be left to 

 the discretion of the planter, who must always bear 

 in mind that a staked plant is in a most unnatural 

 position; and also that if the tree should lean 

 somewhat to one side for some years after plant- 

 ing, it will ultimately become more or less erect ; 

 and that a strong, vigorous-looking plant leaning 

 a little to one side, affords a greater evidence of its 

 being secure and in sound health, than a straight, 

 erect plant, kept in that position by a stake. In 

 the case of planting trees with stems three or four 

 inches in diameter, in exposed situations, two or 

 three stakes may be used, placed at a short dis- 

 tance from the base of the stem and leaning 

 towards it ; and where they are made fast, they 

 should be joined by matting, hay-ropes, or some 

 other soft material, so as not to injure or confine 

 the bark. Before transplanting trees of a timber 

 size, the main roots are frequently cut at the dis- 

 tance of five feet or six feet from the stem, a year 

 previously to transplanting; in consequence of 



