p 



414 APPENDIX. 



from the soil, with as little injury as possible ; the earth should be 

 gently and gradually removed from the larger roots, as we proceed 

 onward from the extremity of the circle to the centre, and when we 

 reach the nucleus of roots surrounding the trunk, and fairly undermine 

 the whole, we shall find ourselves in possession of a tree in such a per- 

 fect condition, that even when of considerable size, we may confident- 

 ly hope for a speedy recovery of its former luxuriance after being 

 replanted. 



Now to remove a tree in this manner, requires not only a considera- 

 ole degree of experience, which is only to be acquired by practice, but 

 also much patience and perseverance while engaged in the work. It is 

 not a difficult task to remove, in a careless manner, four or five trees in 

 a day, of fifteen feet in height, by the assistance of three or four men, 

 and proper implements of removal, while one or two trees only can be 

 removed if the roots and branches are preserved entire or nearly so. 

 Yet in the latter case, if the work be well performed, we shall have the 

 satisfaction of beholding the subjects, when removed, soon taking fresh 

 root, and becoming vigorous healthy trees, with fine luxuriant heads, 

 while three-fourths of the former will most probably perish, and the 

 remainder struggle for several years, under the loss of so large a por- 

 tion of their roots and branches, before they entirely recover, and put 

 on the appearance of handsome trees. 



When a tree is carelessly transplanted, and the roots much mutilated, 

 the operator feels obliged to reduce the top accordingly ; as experience 

 teaches him, that although the leaves may expand, yet they will soon 

 perish without a fresh supply of food from the roots. But when the 

 largest portion of the roots are carefully taken up with the tree, 

 pruning should be less resorted to, and thus the original symmetry and 

 beauty of the head retained. When this is the case, the leaves contri- 

 bute as much, by their peculiar action in elaborating the sap, towards 

 re-establishing the tree, as the roots ; and indeed the two act so re- 

 ciprocally with each other, that any considerable injury to the one 

 always affects the other. " The functions of respiration, perspiration, 

 and digestion," says Professor Lindley, " which are the particular of- 

 fices of leaves, are essential to the health of a plant ; its healthiness 

 being in proportion to the degree in which these functions are duly 



