LIFTING LARGE TREES. 
27 
occasionally do well, but at other times they fail quite un- 
accountably. 
With regard to the age of trees operated upon, there seems to 
be very little more difference in the result than with those of 
varying size ; for while I have lifted very many at the age of 
twenty years and upwards, some few have been moved with 
equal success that were probably not less than 100 years old. 
I consider early autumn — say any time in September — the 
best month for lifting both Conifers and deciduous trees. In 
the case of the latter it is by no means necessary to wait 
until the leaves have fallen, or have even changed colour, for I 
have moved large examples in full leaf in early September when 
the weather has not been too hot and dry. In fact, such 
trees seem to recover more quickly, as the foliage no doubt 
assists in reviving the checked root -action, and there is time to 
recover before the soil becomes cold with the winter frosts. 
In briefly describing my method of operation it is needful 
first of all to carefully prepare, map out, and prepare the plan of 
the work and its details, not only selecting all the trees to be 
dealt with, and the site to which each is to be transferred, but 
also making all arrangements for the promptitude of the 
removal and the replanting, so that when the work is once com- 
menced there may be no hitch whatsoever, or occasion for any 
delay. The next important point is to decide upon the size of 
the ball of earth to be removed with the roots, and much 
doubt, or at least difference of opinion, seems to exist on this 
point ; for when a tree has attained a considerable size it is often 
thought that the " ball" must be of such enormous dimensions 
that removal would be a practical impossibility. Now I have 
found that, in proportion to the height, vigour, or habit of the 
tree, the ball of earth may vary from 4 feet to 8 feet square, the 
latter size being large enough for the majority of trees (even for 
very well-grown specimens) that are likely to be removed. 
Having marked out the size of the " ball," I next have a trench 
formed round the tree at the distance decided upon, 5 feet wide 
and 4 feet deep, not ruthlessly cutting off all roots, but preserving 
them from injury as far as possible, as they can be spread out 
in their fresh position when the soil is being again filled in 
round the ball. Three feet below the surface we carefully bore 
through the ball from one side, and pass a stout, strong plank 
