TKANSPLANTING 67 



being taken not to cut any of the rootlets from the un- 

 injured parts. 



Among hardwood transplants there are usually a good 

 percentage with double tops. The strongest and straightest 

 of these should be selected to remain as the leader, and 

 the other cut off flush with the stem. When the leader 

 has been killed or damaged, a side-shoot may be tied up 

 to the stem and trained to take its place. This is seldom 

 done with the commoner forest trees, but is useful when 

 a new leader is required on more expensive ornamental 

 trees. 



Forest trees without leaders should be discarded, as, 

 except in a few cases, they seldom recover in time to 

 maintain a high growth equal to those with perfect leaders. 



Ash, Sycamore, and Oak amongst the hardwoods acquire 

 a new leader very readily, while Larch and Menzies Spruce 

 are the best of the conifers for this. 



When roots of hardwoods have been pruned, the branches 

 should also be slightly pruned, to restore the balance 

 between the root system and the top ; otherwise there may 

 not be enough moisture absorbed by the remaining roots 

 for the sustenance of the leaves or young shoots, some 

 of which will die off. In other words, the tree will prune 

 itself in the endeavour to restore the balance. 



In any case, it is better to shorten all straggling branches 

 to about half their lengths, and to prune off close to the 

 stem any that look like becoming too strong for the shade 

 of other trees in the plantation to kill before they produce 

 knots in the timber. 



All pruning should preferably be done with a sharp 



