CHAPTEE XIII 



LESSONS WITH TREES 



It is often a good plan to plant chiefly those trees and 

 shrubs that are indigenous to the climate and soil of the sec- 

 tion. Native trees and shrubs cannot always be obtained 

 from nurseries. It is therefore desirable to select good speci- 

 mens in the open places in native woods> along streams, and 

 elsewhere. The most serious objection to this method is the 

 difficulty in securing enough of the good fibrous roots. This 

 may be done by cutting the main roots of the tree' at a suitable 

 distance from the trunk one year before the tree is to be 

 transplanted. During this interval there will be an abundant 

 growth of fine roots neUr the places where the main roots were 

 cut. Nurserymen use this method for their larger shade trees. 



The tops of the trees may also be pruned the year before 

 we do the transplanting. This previous work will make many 

 of the trees much more shapely and more suitable for orna- 

 mental planting. 



EXERCISES 



The following lessons with trees are given in exercise form 

 for the purpose of making them more concrete. The /full 

 discussions are for the benefit of any who are unable to perform 

 the exercises. 



~ I. Sap Ducts in Plants. — Select some cuttings of leafy branches 

 of such trees as willow or poplar or green cuttings from any woody 

 plants. Place these in some water well colored with red ink. After 

 a day, cut across a* few of the stems a few inches above the water. 

 Split other stems and examine each for the colored ducts which carry 

 the sap up the stem. In which part of the stem are these duets 

 located? Has the sap traveled upward in the bark, sapwDod or 

 heartwood ? 



The purpose of coloring the liquid is to show plainly where 

 the ascending sap travels. The value of the exercise is better 

 understood in connection with the next exercise. 



153 



