62 TRANSPLANTING. 



enough to receive freely all the roots when 

 spread out, without bending, just as they lay 

 in the soil before. Fine mellow earth is to be fill- 

 ed in among them, and the fingers used to spread 

 out all the fibres during the operation. No empty 

 space among them should be-left; but the roots 

 should be closely imbedded on every side, and es- 

 pecially under the middle of the tree. Downing 

 says, " Nine-tenths of the deaths from transplant- 

 ing, arise from the hollows left among the roots, by 

 a careless and rapid mode of shoveling in the 

 earth." A pail of water dashed in among the roots 

 before the hole is quite filled, is eminently service- 

 able in settling the soil about them, and should not 

 be omitted. The surrounding soil soon absorbs all 

 the superabundant water, and leaves them in fine 

 condition for growing. 



When roots are bruised or mutilated in removal, 

 their broken and ragged extremities remain open 

 to the introduction of water, and decay follows. 

 If all such parts are pared off smoothly with a sharp 

 knife, the vessels contract, and the wound heals by 

 granulations. 



It is desirable that nearly the same depth should 

 be preserved; when trees are transplanted, as be- 

 fore. But the mellow earth should rise two or three 

 inches above the surrounding surface, to allow for 

 its subsequent settling. 



The size of the holes should depend somewhat 



