132 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
Other and more elaborate devices are in use, but this explains 
“the idea and is therefore sufficient for the present purpose ; for 
when a person desires to remove a very large tree he should 
secure the services of an expert. 
The following more explicit directions for moving large trees 
are by Edward Hicks, who has had much experience in the 
business, and who made this report to the press a few years ago: 
“Tn moving large trees, say those ten to 
twelve inches in diameter and twenty-five 
to thirty feet high, it is well to prepare 
them by trimming and cutting or sawing 
off the roots at a proper distance from the 
trunks, say six to eight feet, in June. 
The cut roots heal over and send out 
fibrous roots, which should not be in- 
.jured more than is necessary in moving 
the trees next fall or spring. Young, 
thrifty maples and elms, originally 
from the nursery, do not 
need such preparation 
nearly as much as other 
and older trees. In mov- 
ing a tree, we begin by 
digging a wide trench six to eight feet from it, leaving all possible 
roots fast toit. By digging under the tree in the wide trench, and 
working the soil out of the roots by means of round or dull- 
pointed sticks, the soil falls into the cavity made under the tree. 
Three or four men in as many hours could get so much of the 
soil away from the roots that it would be safe to attach a rope 
and tackle to the upper part of the trunk and to some adjoining 
post or tree for the purpose of pulling the tree over. A good 
quantity of bagging must be put around the tree under the rope 
to prevent injury, and care should be taken that the pulling of 
the rope does not split off or break alimb. A team is hitched to 
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148. Moving a large tree. 
