CHAPTER VII. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



NEARLY every fruit tree must at some period be removed 

 from the nursery, and transplanted into the orchard or gar- 

 den. When it is remembered that in a large number of 

 instances, where hastily performed, the trees perish from 

 the act ; and that in a still larger number, including a great 

 majority, a severe check is given to their growth, it needs 

 no argument to show the importance of transplanting well. 



This removal is from necessity, an act of violence. As 

 frequently performed, it is so severe that it either results 

 in death, or a lingering recovery. But with the skilful 

 operator, the rigor of the operation may be so softened, as 

 to be not only attended with perfect safety to the tree, but 

 with scarcely an abatement in the thriftiness of its growth. 



It may indeed sometimes happen, that careless manage- 

 ment from an accidental combination of favorable causes, 

 is followed with success. The entire failure of similar 

 treatment in other cases, proves the superiority of the mode 

 which shall invariably accomplish the object, with the same 

 certainty that cause is followed by effect. The most skilful 

 cultivators, who have the whole operation at their control, 

 never expect to, and actually do not, lose one tree in a 

 thousand. 



Taking up the tree, and shortening -in. Every person, 

 about to transplant a tree, should remember that the roots 

 and the leaves both perform very important offices, the one 

 constantly dependent on the other. The first collects food 

 for the tree ; the other elaborates and prepares this food for 

 use. Without the roots, the leaves and rest of the tree 

 perish. Without the leaves, the root cannot grow, and 

 eventually dies. 



It is obvious that if a tree could be removed with all its 

 roots, including all the numerous thread-like radicles, and 



