CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION 33 



firmly guyed, generally work a hole around the stem of the 

 tree which will, if unfilled, eventually dry the roots. Most of 

 the losses in my early plantings were due to this cause." 



The moving of large evergreens. (Plates VIII, IX.) 



The removal of large conifers, above the usual nursery or 

 transplanting sizes, is a special practice, and the success of it 

 depends on large experience and often the use of special hoists 

 and trucks. The following explanation is from the experience 

 of Henry Hicks, as told in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horti- 

 culture. 



"Large evergreens are moved with a ball of earth because 

 they have no dormant period, but carry their foliage and need 

 moisture at all times of the year. It is essential that the ball of 

 earth contains a sufficient amount of small fibrous feeding roots 

 to support the tree and that the tree be kept well watered for 

 two or more seasons until the tree has spread its roots over 

 sufficient area to gather enough rainfall to sustain the normal 

 growth. The extent of fibers in the ball is increased by trans- 

 planting and root-pruning. Root-pruning is less essential with 

 trees having an abundance of fibrous roots than with trees 

 having only a few large coarse roots in the central portion. 

 Some trees, as white pine, will survive with a comparatively 

 small number of roots, their drought-resistant qualities enabling 

 them to persist with a small supply of moisture. Other ever- 

 greens, as Nordmann's fir, have a long carrot-like tap-root, 

 and the tree is likely to die if this is cut and the tree given an 

 inadequate quantity of water. Frequent nursery transplanting 

 is, therefore, necessary with this species. 



"Trees are dug by starting a trench at a radius from the tree 

 about three feet wider than the ball of earth to be taken. The 

 roots are cut off on the outside of the trench and the soil dis- 



