TRANSPLANTING. 25 



TAKING FKOM THE NUKSERY. 



Trees should be injured as little as possible in removing them 

 from the nursery. Taking them from the row, and tying in such a 

 manner as to be easily transported, is properly the nurseryman's 

 business ; yet it is always best to keep a watchful eye to the work. 

 Especial care should be taken that the roots are not broken or 

 bruised, or cut away by the spade in taking them from the ground ; 

 and when any of the roots do become injured, they should be nicely 

 cut off with a sharp knife. As soon as dug, the tree^ should be 

 carefully arranged in convenient bunches, as much damp earth as 

 possible placed about their roots, and then closely enveloped in 

 some coarse sacking, or other suitable thing, and firmly tied with 

 strong cord. If they are to be re-set at but a short distance from 

 the nursery, these precautions are unnecessary, though if they are 

 to b& carried any considerable distance, too much care can not be 

 used in this respect. In all cases the roots should be carefully se- 

 cured against exposure to the air and sun. 



If from any cause the trees are not to be immediately planted, 

 they should be placed in the ground, root and stock, by digging a 

 trench and shoveling loose dirt upon them, to a depth sufiicient to 

 exclude the air. The weather will not always permit of immediate 

 re-plantmg, but it should in no case be delayed longer than is abso- 

 lutely necessary. This covering should be done in orchard or gar- 

 den, and the trees should be removed from the trench one by one as 

 they are planted. 



SELECTION OF TREES. 



There is great diversity of opinion in regard to the proper size 

 of a tree for transplantinnf, though best informed and most expe- 

 rienced planters now prefer a two-year-old tree rather than one of a 

 larger size. In thrifty, well-tilled nurseries, trees of that age will 

 average about five feet high ; and such a tree can be more easily 

 handled, and is also in a better condition to sustain the violence 

 done to its nature by transplanting, and better able to recover from 

 it, than those of an older and larger growth. Care should also be 

 taken to select trees of well-branched and well-formed heads, and oi 

 as near the same size, vigor, and general condition as possible. 



