'228 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTURE. 



insufficient to feed the leafy portion, this defect is 

 easily remedied by cutting back the latter close to 

 the ground. The shoots which then come up are 

 the direct result of the vegetative force of the roots, 

 and equilibrium is established between the two by 

 the end of the first year. Among these shoots only 

 one can survive on such a small stool, so that cutting 

 back is no obstacle to the creation of high forest. 

 More frequently when the seedlings have been raised 

 in nursery lines, or when the tap-root has been 

 shortened in situ, convenient roots will have de- 

 veloped themselves, which may be extracted entire. 

 This is no longer the case, when one has to deal 

 with tall seedlings. Do what one can, there are 

 always broken roots which must be amputated, and 

 vegetative equilibrium can only be established by 

 cutting back the portion above ground. The only 

 thing necessary to bear in mind is that it is better 

 to have too many roots than to have too few. 



Similarly too much care cannot be used in put- 

 ting the seedlings into the ground. The roots 

 should be placed in their natural position, in which 

 they previously were. This is especially necessary 

 in the case of plants already of some size. With 

 them the roots, after being properly arranged, ought 

 to be covered over carefully with the best layer of 

 soil dug up, with that which has been subjected 

 longest to weather influences. It ought to be 

 broken up fine, so as to allow it to fill up all the 

 interstices between the roots. At the same time it 

 must not be pressed down too tight under the 

 pretence of producing a more complete contact : 



