CHAPTER IX 

 PRUNING NURSERY STOCK* 



Digging stock destroys roots. Were it possible to dig 

 such plants with all the root area intact and to place it 

 where desired without loss of any of this area, there 

 would be no check to growth. Hence every effort should 

 be made in digging to approach this ideal as nearly as 

 possible, for thus will success be greater. As already 

 shown, roots extend far in each direction from the base 

 of the stems, often farther than the spread of the branches 

 on one side plus the length of the trunk. That is, a tree 

 with a trunk 4 feet high and a spread of 3 feet on each 

 side of the trunk would extend its roots usually at least 

 7 feet on each side, and thus cover a circular area fully l-t 

 feet in diameter. Examples that prove this are locust 

 and poplar, which often send up suckers farther away 

 from the main trunk than the height of the trunk plus 

 the spread of the branches on one side. 



This fact shows one reason why losses of newly set 

 trees improperly transplanted are so great ; so great a 

 quantity of the most important roots — the feeding area — 

 is lost in ordinary digging that the trees can't recover. 

 Such losses may, however, be prevented to a very large 

 extent. In experimental practice they have been reduced 

 to almost nothing. From what has been said (Chapter 

 II) the reasons for reducing the top are evident. A word, 

 however, must be said concerning the roots. As or- 

 dinarily dug and delivered by the nurseryman, they are 

 more or less mangled, split, bruised or otherwise injured, 

 for the most part unavoidably. If planted just as received 

 they will grow, to be sure, but better results will be se- 



• The trimming of young trees in the nursery rows is discussed in the author's 

 book, Plant Propagation, Greenhouse and Nursery Practice, Page 279. 



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