AMERICAN HOME UAEDEN. 493 



horizontal roots at such a distance as may seem judicious, and, 

 if we iind but few of these, proceed farther and open the trench, 

 so that the dov/nwai'd roots may be partially or wholly cut off. _ 

 Repeat and perfect the operation in the following year or years, 

 and, if it has been skillfully performed, your tree may be re- 

 moved without difficulty in the fall or spring of the third or 

 fourth year. 



If the subsoil be such that you know the roots do not go far 

 down, as is common in swamp trees, the root-cutting may be 

 effected by a single deep cut with a spade around the tree as 

 directed for root-pruning, page 255. 



In preparing trees for transplanting by cutting round them, 

 or in their actual removal, it will be found a good general rule 

 to make the diameter of the ball of earth in the proportion of 

 one foot to one inch diameter in the stem of the tree at a foot 

 above the collar. 



In removing trees, other than evergreens, from the woods, it 

 is of great practical importance to prmie them closely at the 

 time of transplanting, cutting away from their heads from one 

 third to one half the weight, carefully shortening and opening 

 them. All the chmbing shrubs so transferred will be benefit- 

 ed hj being cut down to the ground, so that the growth of the 

 plant may be entirely new. The same is true of most varieties 

 of bush shrubs, particularly the Azaleas, Wild Roses, and the 

 Laurel (Kalmia), which, though an evergreen, is in this respect 

 an exception to its class. 



This process is not to be rigidly applied to those plants 

 which we select for the sake of their stems already formed, but 

 it will be found good for most kinds and individuals from the 

 woods, and very often, also, nm-sery plants, particularly if they 

 have been over-forced, or are transplanted when in leaf and 

 wilt upon your hands, or from any cause are weakened before 

 being reset. It also relieves from the necessity of seeking for 

 handsome plants, as they will grow naturally, and therefore 

 prettily, when, having sufficient room, they grow anew. 



Evergreens appear to suffer and exhaust with the winter. 

 Early spring is the season of their peculiar weakness, and if 

 removed carelessly or harshly then, there is little hope of thera. 



