142 THE NEW FORESTRY. 



woods where firs have been prostrated by gales. In such 

 cases the roots are nearly all torn out of the ground and 

 exposed, only a few roots on one side remaining in the soil. 

 Yet such prostrated trees live, and -in some cases they have 

 produced from their upper sides a crop of poles. A case of 

 this kind was recorded in the "Field," by the proprietor, in 

 1898. The plan of extension here recommended has these 

 advantages, that it is not expensive considering the size of the 

 trees and the effect produced at once, and that the thinnings 

 from the other plantations are utilised instead of wasted. 



SECTION XIX. — TRANSPLANTING LARGE TREES. 



This is a business that has little connection with true 

 forestry, but it is one that usually devolves upon the forester 

 and must be noticed here. It is not advisable to transplant 

 large trees on an extensive scale, to form groups, as has been 

 advocated in times past, because it is a most expensive plan 

 and because such trees are very apt to be blown over by gales 

 unless stayed by wire ropes, which are troublesome, requiring 

 frequent attention. We know estates where numbers of tall 

 trees were transplanted successfully, many years ago, scarcely 

 any of which now remain, nearly all having been prostrated by 

 gales within the last twenty years. Trees from ten to fifteen 

 feet in height may be moved with a good prospect of their roots 

 getting a sufficient hold of the ground and their top receiving 

 but little check ; but when trees from twenty to thirty feet 

 are transplanted, disappointment may be expected, and some 

 species endure moving much worse than others — thorns, oaks, 

 ash and elms for example. Moderate sized trees may be 

 transplanted without previous root-pruning, and large balls 

 of earth are not necessary, but still root-pruning the year 

 before almost ensures success. Trees from ten to fifteen feet 

 high may be cut in to eighteen inches from the stem, which will 

 leave a ball of earth less than three feet wide when the ball is 

 reduced in lifting. That size should carry successfully in a 

 barrow, or on a skid made of boards and drawn by a pony. 

 We have moved many trees successfully, up to twenty and 

 thirty feet in height and of all kinds, with no other appliances 

 than could be extemporised on the spot. However excellent 

 transplanting appliances may be, they may be rendered useless 

 by careless work with the spade and needless hurry. It is 

 much better to have a good fringe of roots to the tree than 



