58 THE TREES OF AMERICA. 



soil loose and friable. For a tree, however small, I dig a hole seven feet square, 

 and, at the least, two feet and a half deep. When the tree is large, say fifty or 

 sixty feet high, the hole should be fourteen feet square, and of course deeper, 

 if the roots require it. In digging the hole, the top soil is thrown by itself, to 

 be used in setting out the tree, while the gravel, etc., is carted away. A com- 

 post is then made, composed of rich soil, decayed forest leaves, peat, manure, 

 etc., according to the requirements of the kind of tree to be planted. This is 

 placed in readiness by the side of the hole. In case the ground is sloping, some 

 of the poor soil is retained to make a half-moon dam of on the lower side of the 

 tree, to retain the water. 



" In digging up the tree I cut off as few roots as possible, and not any top 

 the first year of planting. According to the size of the tree to be dug up, we 

 breg,k ground at some distance from the body, working under the roots towards 

 it. If the tree is large, some slats are tied to the trunk, where the tackle and 

 fall are to be attached — say at a point where the tree will be likely to balance 

 when it is out of the ground. The tackle and fall are attached to a derrick, the 

 derrick being' secured by three guys fastened to the earth by iron pins. The 

 tackle is to be drawn taut before the tree is wholly free from the ground. 

 A wagon is brought up conveniently near the tree. In this wagon are two bun- 

 dles of pressed hay, standing on end, upon which the tree is to lie. A yoke of 

 oxen are hitched to the fall, and made to hoist the tree from its place, when it 

 is swayed into position over the hay, with the roots towards the cattle. It is 

 then lowered into its resting place, and fastened by ropes, and driven to where 

 it is to be replanted. The derrick, guys, and tackle are transported at the same 

 time, and the tree set in its new place by reversing the order of proceeding. 

 Care should be taken not to plant the tree any deeper than it stood previous 

 to moving. The soil should be well brought up under the roots ; and it is a 

 good plan, in all cases, to mix some of the soil with water, so as to form a thin 

 mud, and turn it upon the roots. This may be mixed in a tub or pail. Trees 

 which are difficult to make live after transplanting will in many cases have their 

 lives insured by this process. It is well to mulch the tree previous to ballasting 

 it with stone. This will pay in all cases, but is absolutely necessary to the 



