SHADE TREE PLANTING 79 



In digging a tree for transplanting the entire root 

 system should be taken up, with particular attention to 

 the small roots, for it is through these fine rootlets that the 

 tree secures its nourishment from the soil. The one 

 thing most essential is to keep the roots moist during 

 the journey. A root that is allowed to dry out loses its 

 vitality and becomes worthless. 



Sometimes it is necessary to transplant trees of larger 

 diameter than three inches, as in the case of replacing a 

 tree where its companions are of considerable size. This 

 can be done by digging the specimen with a large ball of 

 earth about the roots. This earth serves to hold the 

 moisture and also protects the roots from injury in 

 handling, but of even more importance it keeps the roots 

 in close contact with the soil so that growth can be con- 

 tinued without the tree having to reestablish its growing 

 connection by sending out new rootlets. In many cities 

 municipal nurseries are maintained and trees of various 

 size are available for replacing those which die. This is 

 one of the important functions of a nursery maintained 

 by the city, as it is desirable, of course, that the new tree 

 should be, as nearly as possible, of uniform size with the 

 other trees on the street. A municipal nursery prepares 

 these trees for transplanting by a process of checking the 

 spread of roots as the trees grow. To accomplish this the 

 trees are root pruned at least every two years. In the case 

 of the larger trees, a trench is dug around, which results in 

 forcing the roots to develop compactly, so that the speci- 

 men may be planted in the restricted area of street 

 surroundings without trimming the roots at the time of 

 moving. 



The tree planter's responsibility begins with the 

 arrival of the tree from the nursery, and he should use 

 care to see that the precautions taken by the shipper are 



