Age^ Size, Roots. 



tree respectively, I have here to offer none but general 

 observations. 



66. The trees should be as young, generally speaking, as 

 the nature of them will permit. In some cases, and, indeed, 

 in most cases, they should be trees that have been once re- 

 moved; that is to say, that have been first raised in a seed 

 bed j and then put into a nursery, or plantation, in rows 

 pretty close together, where they may stand for one, two, 

 or three years, according to the nature of the plant, and 

 according to its quickness or slowness in point of growth. 

 The method of performing this work, is as follows : dig up 

 the seedling trees in the month of November, or even in 

 October, and, having tipped their roots with a sharp knife, 

 plant them in rows about a foot or fifteen inches apart, and 

 fasten them well in the ground. Some trees may stand 

 closer to each other than othei's, in the row; but, in general, 

 the distance of six inches, from tree to tree, may be enough. 

 In this nursery, they will get new roots, which will come 

 out side-ways, and will form what is called a bushy or 

 shaggy root, and, in most cases, they will grow with greater 

 certainty, and make greater progress in plantations, than 

 when planted out at once from the seed-bed, the excep- 

 tions to which rule, will be mentioned under the heads of 

 the several trees. 



67. Almost every seedling tree, of great height, has a 

 tap root, and, some trees, of very great length. I have 

 seen a Hickory seedling, the plant itself not being more 

 than six inches long, and the root more than four feet. 

 Several trees make a tap root of two feet long the first 

 year. These tap roots cannot be preserved in transplant- 

 ing; and, if they were put into the groimd, at full length, 

 with an iron bar, they would be sure to die all the way 



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