TRANSPLANTING LAEGE TREES. 39 



they received considerable injury, from which a pre- 

 cautionary lesson may be learned. 



In 1853 we assisted in transplanting a group of 

 trees around a newly-built cottage. The group con- 

 sisted of oak, spruce, and Scots pine, together with 

 some shrubs. The soil was a deep sandy loam, rest- 

 ing upon white sand and clay, at a depth of about 

 3 feet. The trees were grown in a reserve nursery 

 about a mile distant from the place, and were con- 

 veyed thither on carts. Most of them were lifted 

 with balls of earth attached, and were from 6 to 8 

 feet high. It was observable from the time of plant- 

 ing how well some of the trees grew, making large 

 annual shoots, while others, enjoying the same advan- 

 tages, made no perceptible progress. The circum- 

 stance was so peculiar as to call for special attention ; 

 and on examining the roots it was found that those 

 trees which were progressing favourably had been 

 planted with balls of earth adhering, while those of 

 stinted growth had, through accident, lost theirs, which 

 accounted for the discrepancy of growth. Those trees 

 transplanted with the ball of earth attached continued 

 to grow in their new situation as if they had never 

 been removed or disturbed at all ; the others, on the 

 contrary, found it difficult to produce a fresh class of 

 roots adapted to their new condition of life. 



From the above and similar examples, the writer is 

 persuaded that oaks or other trees planted from clay 

 soils are very uncertain of success, and would there- 

 fore seek to guard against such evil consequences as 

 are certain to occur in transplanting without balls. 



