280 YARD AND GARDEN 



submitted to such violent disturbance quickly 

 overtake the larger trees. This idea arises, no 

 doubt, from the custom which still very gener- 

 ally prevails of moving trees with trunks six 

 to twelve inches in diameter, with only a small 

 ball of roots measuring, in some instances, only 

 three or four feet in diameter. This ball, as 

 small as it is, can not contain the larger roots 

 and, as from sixty to ninety per cent, of the 

 feeding roots are lost in the process, the tree 

 naturally receives a set-back from which it is 

 not likely to recover. It sends out its leaves, 

 using in this process the plant foods stored with- 

 in its cells but, having nothing with which to 

 replenish the supply, fails to support the foliage 

 and, in successive seasons, the leaves are less 

 plentiful, the branches die and the bark itself 

 perishes. 



In the transplanting of large trees it is most 

 important to obtain all the roots possible. In 

 order to do this the digging should be begun at 

 a distance great enough from the trunk of the 

 tree to permit all the excavation that may be 

 necessary. As the ends of the roots are un- 

 covered they should lie carefully lifted and tied 

 so as not to impede the progress of the work- 

 men or suffer damage at their hands. As the 



