124 PLANTING. 



branches that are required to be removed, will de- 

 pend partly on the kind of tree, and partly on the 

 intention of the planter, but mainly on the climate 

 and soil. Beech trees, as already mentioned, are 

 injured when transplanted, by having many branch- 

 es removed, and often die in consequence. Syca- 

 mores, and all the Acer tribe, having numerous 

 fibres near the main stem, require but little pruning 

 of the head. The same may be said of the Yew 

 and the Holly, the Lime and the Elm. When the 

 object of the planter is to produce immediate effect 

 by a bulky head, all the branches may be left on, 

 whatever may be the kind of tree ; but in that case 

 the tree will produce only leaves for a number of 

 years, or if it produce shoots they will not exceed 

 a few lines in length. Ultimately, if the soil be 

 poor and dry, the tree will probably perish ; but if 

 the soil should be good and moist, and the climate 

 also moist, the tree will, in time, become vigorous, 

 and produce shoots. Where the climate is moist, 

 and the soil good, and also moist, any tree may be 

 transplanted without pruning the branches ; be- 

 cause the fibres it will produce in such a soil and 

 climate, will be sufficient to supply the moisture 

 transpired by the leaves. But where the climate 

 is dry and the soil also dry, no large tree can be 

 safely transplanted with all its branches ; because 

 the transpiration by the leaves will be much great- 

 er than the moisture which can possibly be absorb- 

 ed by the roots. Hence, in the dry climate of the 

 Continent, all trees with stems above an inch or 

 two in diameter, have their branches entirely cut 

 off, always excepting the Beech and Hornbeam 

 the Yew, and all the Pine and Fir, and Cypress 

 tribes. Even in this country, in Evelyn's time 



