202 



analogous to tliat, in which branches spread themselves in 

 the air, but with a far greater multiphcity of ramification. 

 From the principal root proceed the buds, that give rise to 

 the primary rootlets ; and these again give off finer ramifi- 

 cations, which are the true absorbents of the root. To take 

 up such minute and diminutive shoots on the preservative 

 principle, in any thing like an entire state, is obviously im- 

 possible, wnth the arboricultural implements now generally 

 in use. Hence it became necessary to have something more 

 effective ; and the tree-picker was some years since invented 

 for this purpose, and is now used in Scotland by many per- 

 sons, who have witnessed its extraordinary utility in my 

 practice. This implement is of very simple structure, re- 

 sembling the pick used by miners, but with only one point 

 or prong, which forms an angle somewhat more acute with 

 the handle, than in the miner's pick. See Plate, Fig. 

 4. The head, which is of iron, and fifteen inches long in the 

 prong, is made extremely light, as also the wooden handle. 

 The length of the latter is two feet and a half, the entire 

 implement weighing no more than about four-and-a-half 

 pounds. In fact, it can scarcely be made too light, for the 

 purpose in question. 



From what has been said in the foregoing Section respec- 

 ting the preparation of trees, it is apparent, that those which 

 have been cut round arc more easily taken up than those 

 that have never been so prepared. The trench, made dur- 

 ing this operation, serves as a sure guide to show the point, 

 to which the fibrous elongation has extended ; whereas, in 

 subjects which have undergone no such preparation, the 

 roots must be judged of from other, and sometimes more un- 

 certain circumstances. Every experienced workman is aware, 

 in examining a tree, that has never been prepared for the 

 purpose of taking it up, that in any tolerable rooting-ground, 

 he will find the points of the roots, if not mechanically pre- 

 vented, running out to the full extent of the branches, and 



