2 
preparation. Older trees, however, and certain conifers like Coulter 
pine, western yellow pine, longleaf pine, and such broadleaf trees as 
form long taproots, should have their roots pruned in the seedbeds. 
This may be done late in the summer by running a “ tree digger ” un- 
der each row of trees and allowing the plants to stand undisturbed 
for another season, or, with small seedlings, the roots may be pruned 
with a sharp flat spade or a special implement designed for the pur- 
pose. | 
European foresters move young trees with balls of earth adher- 
ing to their roots, such trees being called “ ball plants.” Where the | 
eucalyptus is cultivated on a large scale the seedlings are frequently 
prepared for easy transplanting by being grown in “ flats ” 
boxes made of some durable wood. The plants may then be removed 
with a small block of earth attached to the roots. 
When the trees to be moved are large they are often prepared by 
digging them partly out in the fall, so that a large ball of earth may 
be frozen to their roots. The block of frozen soil, with the tree in | 
it, is moved during the winter season to a hole which was dug before 
the ground became frozen. 
PUDDLING. 
When a seedling or transplant is taken from the ground, its roots | 
should immediately be plunged into a vessel containing a mixture | 
of earth and water about as thick as cream. This mixture is known | 
as “ puddle,” and is one of the most important requisites for success- | 
ful tree planting. 
The puddle may be prepared in a pail, tub, or barrel, according to | 
the size and number of the trees to be transplanted, and may be car- | 
ried or drawn along the rows where the digging is in progress. If, 
or seed | 
| 
the trees are to be planted immediately, the vessel holding the puddle | 
may be used as a receptacle to carry them from the nursery to the| 
planting sites. 
HEELING IN. | 
If seedlings are received from a distance, the trees should be un-| 
packed at once and their roots should be dipped into a puddle. After: 
this the trees should be “heeled in” according to the following 
method until the time for planting in the field: . 
Dig a trench deep enough to bury the roots and part of the stems., 
The mend should run east and west, with its south bank at a slope) 
of about 30 degrees to the surface a the ground. <A layer of trees: 
should be placed in the trench on its sloping side, the tops toward. 
the south. The roots and stems should be covered with fresh earth 
dug from the second trench, in which a second layer of trees is put 
and covered in the same way. The digging of the parallel trenches, 
(Cir. 61] | 
