TRANSPLANTING STOCKS. 125 



an incli and a half wide ; dig under the plants without 

 cutting the roots, and as fast as they are loosened below, 

 pull them out, and in this way j)i*oceed. Another and 

 quicker way is, for two men to loosen the plants, each on 

 opposite sides of the row, inserting a forked spade as 

 deep as the roots go, while another follows, and pulls out 

 the plants. "When the ground is quite soft, this way 

 answers very well ; but if dry or hard, the first is better. 



Layers require more care and caution. A trench must 

 be opened all around the layered branches deep enough 

 to go quite below the roots, and in an oblique manner, so 

 as to undermine them. Where the branches are j)egged 

 down, the pegs must be taken out, and the layer is then 

 separated between the rooted part and the stool, and 

 gently taken from the earth. Especial care must be taken 

 not to split those that have been layered by incision ; 

 their removal must be done slowly and cautiously. 



Moimd Layers are easier separated ; the earth is simply 

 removed from the base of the rooted branches, and they 

 are then separated within an inch or so of the stem. 



Layered Branches or Chinese Layers. — ^When the young 

 rooted plants are produced from the eyes of a buried 

 shoot or branch, the pegs are removed, the whole branch 

 dug under, completely loosened and separated from the 

 stool ; the young plants are then taken off one by one 

 close to their base. 



4th. Pruning or Dressing Stocks. — ^The objects in view 

 always in performing this operation are, to remove in- 

 jured or broken roots, to reduce the tap root that it may 

 produce laterals, to reduce the stems to a proper propor- 

 tion with the roots, and put them in a condition that will 

 ensure a vigorous growth. 



Seedlings taken from the seed bed, have always- a long 

 tap root, with few or no laterals ; and as trees with such 

 roots are unfit for safe transplantation, it is necessary to 



