46 TRANSPLANTING. 
Pruring the heads of transplanted trees, at the season of re 
moval, we think generally an injurious practice. It is certainly 
nzedless and hurtful in the case of small trees, or those of such 
a size as w'll allow the roots to be taken up nearly entire 5 for, 
as the action of the branches and the roots is precisely recipro- 
cal, and as new roots are rapidly formed just in proportion to 
the healthy action of the leaves, it follows that by needlessly 
cutting off branches we lessen the vital action of the whole tree. 
At the same time, where trees are transplanted of so large a size 
that some of the roots are lost in removing them, it is necessary 
to cut back or shorten a few of the branches—as many as will 
restore the balance of the system—otherwise the perspiration 
of the leaves may be so great, as to exhaust the supply of sap 
faster than the roots can collect it. A little judgment only is 
necessary, to see at a glance, how much of the top must be 
pruned away before planting the tree, to equalize the loss be- 
tween the branches and the roots. 
When it is necessary to transplant fruit trees of large size, 
the best practice is to prepare them previously by digging a 
trench round the whole mass of roots, undermining them, and cut- 
ting off all roots projecting beyond this line. The trench should 
be dug at such a distance from the tree as will include all the 
large and sufficient ball of roots, and it should be done in the 
spring, or before midsummer, when it is desirable to remove the 
tree the next year. After all the roots that extend to this circular 
trench are cut off, the earth is replaced, and by the season follow- 
ing an abundance of small fibres is sent out by the amputated 
roots, which, when the whole is now removed, will insure the suc- 
cess and speedy growth of the tree. This is more completely the 
case when the tree is prepared two years before transplanting. 
A variation of this mode, which has been found quite as success- 
ful and less laborious, consists in leaving the trench open, and 
covering it with boards only, or boards with a top layer of turf. 
The tree then is somewhat checked in its growth, it throws out 
an abundance of small fibres into the. ball of earth containing 
the roots, and is the next season transplanted with great ease 
and safety. ; 
The proper size for transplanting varies somewhat with the 
sort of tree, and the kind of culture intended. It is, however, 
a maxim equally well settled, both among theorists and the best 
practical men, that health, immediate vigour, and duration, are 
all greatly promoted by transplanting fruit trees of small size— 
from three to six or seven feet. We are fully aware with what 
impatience the beginner, or a person who knows little of the cul- 
ture of trees, looks upon trees of this size—one who is eager to 
plant an orchard, and stock a garden with large trees, thinking 
to gather a crop the next year. The latter may indeed be done, 
but the transplanting so affects the tree, that its first s:anty crop 
