TRANSPLANTING. 199 



planting large trees, and many wonderful feats in this 

 way have been performed, both in ancient and modern 

 times. Naked lawns have been diversified, and groves 

 formed in the short space of a few months ! Such 

 performances go to prove that, with requisite care, 

 skill, and physical force, properly directed, any tree 

 of moderate size, i. e. from twenty to forty feet high, 

 may be transplanted with safety and success. One 

 precaution very much facilitates the execution ; it is 

 that of digging a circular trench, at a proper distance, 

 say six or eight feet, round the trunk and deep 

 enough to be below, and to cut through all the roots 

 except three or four of the largest, which are left at 

 equal distances to act as spurs for the better security of 

 the tree when placed in its new situation. The trench, 

 after the stumps of the roots are cut neatly off, is filled 

 with previously prepared compost for the new fringe 

 of fibres to strike into; and after one, or, what is 

 better, two years, the tree may be with ease and a 

 fine appendage of young roots taken up. In doing 

 this a deep trench on the outside of the first is made, 

 into which the mould among the roots is drawn, until 

 the whole root is loosened from the soil. The spur 

 roots are at the same time followed out and laid bare. 

 A timber truck on high wheels is then backed against 

 the stem, its pole raised and bound thereto ; the 

 wheels must be between, not upon any of the roots ; 

 and when all is ready a horse, or two if necessary, 

 are hooked to the chain attached to the end of the 

 pole, or to a rope fixed round both pole and stem 



