32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY 



that were certainly 40 feet high, and I am safe in saying that the balls were not over 7 

 feet in diameter. The man for whom they were moved is doubtless congratulating 

 himself on the beauty of his evergreens this winter. I think we all know what his 

 sentiments will be next season, if not sooner. 



I once had a tree-moving firm offer to transplant for me a great hemlock some 

 two feet in diameter, growing on a steep bank, and to guarantee it. Needless to say, I did 

 not accept, but the incident serves to show the optimism of the average tree-moving 

 firm; that is, the initial optimism instinctive with them when talking of a prospective deal. 



I am trying, this winter, some moving of a rather critical nature in New England; 

 and, while I have a great degree of confidence in the results, yet at the same time I do 

 not feel so sure as with work that I already have abundant precedent for. There is now 

 on the skids, moving over frozen ground, a spruce over 40 feet in height — a specimen 

 branched to the ground. This tree may fail me, but I think I have reason for con- 

 siderable confidence. The frozen ball contains practically all its roots. The fact that 

 its weight is estimated at twenty tons is demonstration that a serious attempt is being 

 made to do justice to the tree. 



I should greatly like to hear the views of others about the feasibility of transplanting 

 large evergreens, and if I could look into the future with greater certainty, I would give 

 you the results of the experience I am preparing for myself this winter. Doubtless there 

 are some who will say they would rather I should take the experience and they will take 

 the results. 



In regard to the details of planting, has anyone facts to give us concerning planting 

 in conditions different from those in which the tree grew? 



How about planting on a hillside a tree which grew naturally on a level, and thus 

 burying one side of the ball perhaps 4 or 5 feet deep? 



What is there in the old-country idea that a tree should always be planted in the 

 same relations to the points of the compass as those in which it grew? 



Do you advocate the mingling of well-rotted manure in the loam with which the 

 tree is planted, or would you use it as a mulch after planting, relying on watering and 

 rains to carry it to the roots? 



Do you advocate the use of ground bone mingled with the loam? 



Do you think it worth while to lay a series of tile carrying water about the ball? Or 

 would you set tile upright in the ground about the ball, to be filled with water? Or would 

 you depend solely upon the water soaking through from the surface? 



What does experience dictate concerning the moving of trees from a low-lying wet 

 ground to upland situations? 



Is it advisable to cut back the branches when a large tree is transplanted? Would 

 you simply give a general shearing off of the outermost twigs, or would you leave the 

 tree absolutely untrimmed until it had a chance to establish new roots? 



I have seen maples which had been rather severely topped in order to maintain a 

 certain height in a formal scheme where they were transplanted, fail absolutely within 

 a year. It was not conclusively demonstrated that the failure was due to topping, but I 

 strongly suspect this was the principal cause. 



The practice is advocated by some of wrapping the trunks of newly transplanted trees 

 with canvas or with straw rope, the object being to minimize evaporation from the bark 



