THE PLANTING OF STREET-TREES 87 



roots are cut round every three or four years by digging a 

 circular trench around the base of the trees to prevent the 

 elongation of the roots. By this means the root system is 

 formed in a compact mass within a limited volume. The 

 trees are transported from the nursery in heavy trucks 

 especially constructed for the purpose. 



Points in Selecting Trees.— In selecting a shade-tree a 

 compact root system is of greater importance than a large 

 top; although, of course, both are desirable. The abundant 

 roots will cause rapid growth; but a large head and scant 

 roots will result in little growth if the tree survives at all. 

 The ideal street-tree must also have a straight stem, clear of 

 branches to a height of at least seven feet from the ground 

 and a well-defined leader. 



It is always best to order trees from a nursery as near-by 

 as possible. The less exposure of the roots from the time 

 of digging to final transplanting the better for the free. It 

 is not always possible, however, to get desirable stock at a 

 near-by place, and the planter may be obliged to go a con- 

 siderable distance from home to select his trees. If proper 

 precautions are taken in the digging, packing, shipping, 

 unloading, and protection of the trees on arrival, the danger 

 of loss is greatly reduced. 



How Shipped. — The trees selected by the purchaser are 

 marked and left in the nursery until the time of shipment. 

 When digging, care is taken to get the entire root system. 

 To insure the delivery of the trees in as perfect a Condition 

 as when they left the nursery they are carefully packed. If 

 only a few trees constitute the order they are generally 

 shipped in bales; the roots are packed in wet moss and bur- 

 lapped, and the stems and branches are wrapped in straw. 

 A hundred trees or more are shipped in a closed car. The 



