414 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



desirable, as if so, it would not be in proportion to the roots when 

 removed. A well-formed head is no doubt wanted, with a good supply 

 of leaves; but a very large-branched tree should be avoided for the reason 

 stated. A tree with very few branches is also to be rejected, as when 

 this is the case it will have a short supply of roots also. 



Some heavy-topped trees maybe improved by a judicious pruning as, 

 for instance, when one or more branches have grown to such a degree 

 as to give one or more sides of the tree a great weight, and out of pro- 

 portion with the character of the tree. These branches should be cut 

 across at such a point as the size of the top demands ; thus, if we found 

 such at about nine feet long, we should shorten them at about five or 

 six feet from the stem. 



I have generally transplanted trees by first preparing them in the 

 following manner : 



1st, By opening out a trench round the trees about twenty inches 

 broad, cutting it straight down and through all the roots which came in 

 the way ; cutting those roots carefully with a knife, and not with the 

 spade, and deep enough to get below the main mass of the roots. 



2d, This trench should be opened at a certain distance from the stem 

 of the tree, in proportion to its size. Presuming the tree to be fifteen 

 feet high, then I should cut the trench at a distance of four feet from 

 the stem ; and a tree twenty feet high, at a distance of five feet from 

 the stem. 



After having finished the trench, I next have the mass -at roots 

 undermined to a certain extent, and all the soil so removed thrown out 

 of the openings. 



I next fill in the trench to the surface with vegetable mould 

 thoroughly rotten, and a quantity of it is spread over the surface of the 

 ball of roots up to the stem, and then slightly covered over with some 

 of the original soil previously removed. 



I allow the tree to remain in this state for two years at least, 

 when I open another trench round the tree just outside of the leaf- 

 mould, and a little deeper than the one first opened ; and then I under- 

 mine the whole mass of roots under the tree, and have it removed by 

 whatever means it is thought desirable to do so. 



The cost of preparing and removing in this manner has been on an 

 average from 18s. to 1 each. 



I consider that transplanting operations should be conducted in the 

 winter months say November, December, and January in the middle 

 and south of England, and in the north of England and Scotland any 

 time from November to March. After removal, the trees should be 

 attended to in the way of watering and in keeping them properly staked 



