TRANSPLANTING OF TREES. 



175 



It is generally worse than useless, to transplant feeble 

 drawn-np trees, from close-sheltered thickets, into the 

 position of single trees or groups ; for, although they 

 may survive the check sustained from the necessary 

 loss of roots, and the increased cold, not one in ten 

 will ever form a fine tree. We may add, that though 

 trees may often be transplanted at once, success is 

 more certain when they have been prepared by having 

 their roots cut two or three years before their removal. 

 This is done by digging a trench round the tree, at 

 the distance of from two to four feet from the trunk, 

 according to the size, and to the depth of from eigh- 

 teen to thirty inches, so that all the spreading roots 

 may be cut through, and the descending roots left un- 

 touched for the present. When the roots are abund- 

 ant, three or four of the principal ones should be left 

 undivided till the period of transplantation ; or they 

 may be cut at the distance of three or four feet beyond 

 the trench. These reserved roots will afford the tree 

 a better hold of the ground when lifted, while the 

 shortened roots will yield a copious supply of fibers with 

 which to commence its renewed growth. When the 

 soil is ordinary quality, it may be replaced in the 

 trench ; if it is very inferior, or if there are but few 

 roots or fibers within the ball left by the cutting, some 

 prepared soil may be introduced. Generally, however, 

 this is unnecessary, and we prefer keeping the enriched 

 earth to be put round the ball and among the young 

 fibers, at the time when the tree is placed in its new 

 site. 



The removal of large trees requires the assistance 

 of machinery, horses, and a number of men. The 

 common two-wheeled Janker, with its single pole and 



