TRANSPLANTING OP LARGE TREES. 



87 



It is needless to remark that in the transplanting of deciduous trees, 

 the removal should be done during the suspension of active vegetation, 

 that is, from October to April, and generally in the spring before the 

 leaves begin to appear. The pits for receiving the trees should be dug 

 a little time before, if the soil is good, and several months before, if of 

 inferior quality ; and it always tends to secure success in poor soils to 

 place an abuudance of fertile vegetable mold.' 



ing deep into the soil, and movable sockets were placed to receive the pressure of 

 screws for spreading apart the tops of the spade-handles. If too large to be carried 

 by men, the apparatus was mounted upon wheels, with a windlass for lifting and sup- 

 porting it by chains. The machine, consisting of four spades, is most etfectual in its sim- 

 plest form, and for small trees. Its application becomes more difficult as the size of the 

 trees becomes larger, and very soon reaches the maximum limit of application, because 



large trees must have a much wider ball of earth 

 than it can raise, and in stony soils it is altogether 

 useless in any form, and if the soil approaches the 

 condition of dry sand, the contents would more 

 or less escape, notwithstanding the compression. 

 Another method is here shown, which needs no 

 explanation beyond that afforded by the engrav- 

 ings. It is adopted in the city of Paris for the 

 removal of evergreen trees, which are taken from 

 the Boi8 de Boulogne and Vincennes. In first 

 placing the staves, a space of three-fourths of an 

 iucti is allowed between each, so as to admit of 

 some compression without bringing them in con- 

 tact. When fully compressed, barrel-hoops are 

 l)ut around and nailed, so that the roots are in- 

 closed, as in were, in a cask, and the whole may 

 be raised and carried without the least risk of 

 injury to the growing tree. This cut is reduced 

 from one in Kirwan's Coniferts, where it is cred- 

 ited to an article by M. Andrd, in the journal 

 La Ferme. 



Mode of transplanting practiced in the 

 nnraeries near Paris. 



Screw-clamp for binding the staves 

 around the soil. 



'M. Dupuis, in writing for the conditions found in France, says : 

 " In general, in a northern climate we would find it of advantage to dig the holes in 

 autumn for the trees that are to be set at the end of winter. The dimensions will vary, 

 but for trees of mean size two meters square and one deep will be sufficient. In this 

 operation we should put separately on three sides of the hole the turf, the first mel- 

 low soil, and the earth from the bottom. Sometimes the hole is dug round, but the 

 operation is not so easy, and it should bo reserved for rare or precious kinds that need to 

 be planted separately. In setting avenues, some pr- fer to dig a trench about a meter 

 in width, dividing the earth into two parts and placing it on the two sides. In dry soils, 

 ■warm climates, and for rustic deciduous trees, autumnal planting is preferable. In 

 humid soils, in cold climates, and for the delicate or evergreen kinds, it should be done 

 toward the close of winter or at the beginning of spring. When the proper time comes 

 the tree should be raised with care, so as to preserve as many of the roots as possible, 

 and it should be carried to the i>lace it is to occupy with as little exposure of the 

 roots to drying as possible. The ends of the roots should be smoothly cut where muti- 

 lated, and we should at the same time suppress some of the lateral branches — sparing 

 the head if possible. 



" In proceeding to plant, we begin by spreading over the bottom of the hole several 

 inches of the upper soil. The tree is then set upright and the roots are spread apart, 

 80 as to lie in a natural position, and the rest of the surface soil is scattered in. When 

 good soil can be got, especially such as is thrown out in the cleaning of ditches or 

 water-courses, it would be well to spread this in the bottom of the hole. The middle 

 layer of soil is then scattered in, the tree being lightly moved up and down in a ver- 



