30 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY 



Of course, if the root-pruned tree is moved in fall or spring, and the dirt is raked out from 

 among the fibers on the sides of the ball to whatever extent is necessary to prevent their 

 being broken ofif, then these projecting fibrous roots may be of very considerable value. 



These thoughts lead naturally to the discussion of the relative merits of moving 

 with a solid ball of earth, and the opposite course, which is to rake out pretty much all 

 the earth and preserve all the roots. The latter method is the better theory, but the question 

 is whether it is always the better practice. The ideal, as proclaimed by a planter on 

 Long Island, is to preserve all the roots to their uttermost limit, tying them up carefully. 

 Of course, by this means the weight to be handled is greatly reduced, and it may be pos- 

 sible to transport trees that would otherwise be out of the question, except with special 

 engineering appliances. Arriving at the place of planting, every root is supposed to be 

 carefully spread out and firmly tamped in good soil, when they will take up again the 

 operations for which nature intended them. It is for such reasons that I have stated this 

 to be the more perfect theory of transplanting. 



The other method may be defined as an arbitrary chopping ofi' of all roots outside 

 of a certain limit,, and transporting everything within that circumference, keeping undis- 

 turbed as much as possible all contained roots and soil. Of course, it is a great advantage 

 to keep the roots in the actual material in which they have grown, and if it were possible 

 to get all the roots by this method there would be nothing to say against it. This is not 

 practicable, however, because of the enormous weight of the balls, and, therefore, roots 

 are chopped off and a great shock is given to the constitution of the tree. In theory, this 

 method is inferior to the other; but, I repeat, it is a question if it is not often preferable. 



The raking-out method, by which all the roots are saved, is a beautiful idea, and, in 

 some cases can perhaps be nearly attained. If one is working in the open, level or undu- 

 lating country, with easy problems of transportation, a tree may possibly be so dug, the 

 roots protected and kept moist, and the tree planted without delay. In hilly regions, 

 however, and where all sorts of delays are possible, where trees have very likely to be 

 hauled through some narrow lane, and widely projecting masses of roots would be injured, 

 it is a graye question whether one will actually attain the ideal conditions that the raking 

 out and preserving of all the roots calls for. It is the unexpected that happens in tree 

 planting, particularly if you are working in a mountainous district, and one can generally 

 count upon having delays caused by breakdown and no end of little difficulties. For 

 reasons such as these, I am inclined to advocate the solid-ball method of moving large trees. 



There are arguments for and against the moving of trees in winter weather. In 

 case of very sandy soils it is impossible to carry balls except when they are frozen solid. 

 The conditions of weather that freeze them, however, are not the best for handling them. 

 It is very injurious to an exposed ball to have the roots alternately thawing and freezing, 

 and it is a very difficult matter absolutely to protect them against exposure during trans- 

 portation. Then, again, the condition^ for planting are not of the best. Special care has 

 to be taken to keep a quantity of unfrozen loam on hand with which to tamp around and 

 under the ball. For these and other reasons, I am inclined to advocate the moving in 

 late fall or the early spring, in case the conditions of soil make it possible to transport 

 a sufficient ball. On the whole, conditions generally combine to make the fall a better 

 time for work. The roads are very uncertain in springtime, and the ground is liable to 

 cut up to a great depth.^ Of course the system whereby the earth is raked out and all 

 the roots preserved is impossible to use in winter weather. 



