TRANSPLANTING. 



61 



growth. The nearer, then, we can approach this, 

 the greater will be our success. 



Hence a first and essential point is to remove 

 the tree with as little tearing of the roots as possi- 

 ble. The spade should be set into the earth at a 

 distance from the tree, and the whole carefully 

 lifted, not forcibly drawn, from the soil. The roots 

 should then be dipped in thick mud, prepared for 

 the occasion, which will coat them over, prevent 

 them from drying, and assist in forming a close 

 bed of earth round them when they are set out. 

 Nurserymen, who send trees to a distance, some- 

 times neglect this ; if so, it should be done as soon 

 as they are received by the purchaser. 



" Newly planted trees being acted on as levers 

 by the wind, often press the earth round their stems 

 aside, and make an opening down to their roots, 

 which in consequence suffer from both drouth and 

 disturbance. To prevent this disaster, it is there- 

 fore important that stakes should be pro- 

 vided to support and stiffen them. If 

 driven before the trees are planted, they 

 may be erect, as in fig. 4 ; if driven af- 

 terwards, they may be slanting ; and in 

 both cases, straw bands should be first 

 wrapped once round, to prevent the trees 

 from chafing."* 

 " Fig. 4? The hole should in all cases be large 



* David Thomas, in Trans. N. Y. State Ag. Soc. Vol. I. 



9t 



