46 TRANSPLANTING. 



Pruning tlie heads of transplanted trees, at the season of re- 

 moval, we think o-enerally an injurious practice. It is certainly- 

 needless and hurtful in the case of small trees, or those of such 

 a size as w'U allow the roots to be taken up nearly entire ; for, 

 as the action of the branches and the roots is precisely recipro- 

 cal, and as new roots are rapidly formed just in proportion to 

 the healthy action of the leaves, it follows that by needlessly 

 cutting off branches we lessen the vital action of the whole tree. 

 At the same time, where trees are transplanted of so large a size 

 that some of the roots are lost in removing them, it is necessary 

 to cut back or shorten a few of the branches — as many as will 

 restore the balance of the system — otherwise the perspiration 

 of the leaves may be so great, as to exhaust the supply of sap 

 faster than the roots can collect it. A little judgment only is 

 necessary, to see at a glance, how much of the top must be 

 pruned away before planting the tree, to equalize the loss be- 

 tween the branches and the roots. 



When it is necessary to transplant fruit trees of large size, 

 the best practice is to prepare them previously by digging a 

 trench round the whole mass of roots, undermining them, and cut- 

 ting off all roots projecting beyond this line. The trench should 

 be dug at such a distance from the tree as will include all the 

 large and sufficient ball of roots, and it should be done in the 

 spring, or before midsummer, when it is desirable to remove the 

 tree the next year. After all the roots that extend to this circular 

 trench are cut off, the earth is replaced, and by the season follow- 

 ing an abundance of small fibres is sent out by the amputated 

 roots, which, when the whole is now removed, will insure the suc- 

 cess and speedy growth of the tree. This is more completely the 

 case when the tree is prepared two years before transplanting. 

 A variation of this mode, which has been found quite as success- 

 ful and less laborious, consists in leaving the trench open, and 

 covering it Avith boards only, or boards with a top layer of turf. 

 The tree then is somewhat checked in its growth, it throws out 

 an abundance of small fibres into the ball of earth containing 

 the roots, and is the next season transplanted with great ease 

 and safety. 



The proper size for transplanting varies somewhat with the 

 sort of tree, and the kind of culture intended. It is, however, 

 a maxim equally well settled, both among theorists and the best 

 practical men, that health, immediate vigour, and duration, are 

 all greatly promoted by transplanting fruit trees of small size — 

 from three to six or seven feet. We are fully aware with what 

 impatience the beginner, or a person who knows little of the cul- 

 ture of trees, looks upon trees of this size — one who is eager to 

 plant an orchard, and stock a garden with large trees, thinking 

 to gather a crop the next year. The latter may indeed be done, 

 but the transplanting so affects the tree, that its first scanty crop 



