FOURTEEN 



Our Tree- 

 Moving 

 Inventions 



FTER the roots are dissected out of the soil (as shown in the sketch below), if 

 they are to go on a journey of any length, they are carefully wrapped in this way, 

 in long, flexible bundles. Each bundle contains from fifty to one hundred roots the 

 size of a lead pencil, with their innumerable little feeding rootlets. Of course, a 

 few get broken or bruised, but in each square foot of the great circle 30 feet or 

 more in diameter, there are spread out several live roots. These take up all the moisture and 

 fertility from that area, so that the tree is feeding from nearly as large an area as before it was 

 moved. 



You ask about the general impression that "large trees die in a few years," or "never recover 

 from the shock." Such impressions have their origin in the fact that the old way of moving trees 

 1 5 inches in diameter was with but 8 feet diameter of roots, when they should have 30 feet. 

 With our way, each tree has at least ten times as much roots and feeding area. 



The crude, unscientific way of chopping off the roots has been used by contractors, and it 

 is no wonder tree-lovers have been shocked by such barbarous practices, and remembered the 

 failures. Trees so moved sometimes do live if they are 8 inches in diameter, or if of an easy 

 species to move, such as red maple. They often survive if cut back to 3 inch stubs, or if they 



die back, and slowly recover after six years. 



The reason 30 feet spread of roots is 

 needed is because broad-leaved or deciduous 

 trees have an immense evaporating surface and 

 may use several barrels of water per day. 



At this juncture you query, "Why do you 

 condemn the ball-of-earth method for deciduous 

 trees, and then use it when moving evergreens?" 

 Simply, because with the evergreen you must have 

 a ball of earth, as the roots must have earth to 

 get moisture, that the leaves are always evaporat- 

 ing. The roots of deciduous trees do not need 

 a ball of soil when the leaves are off, and it is 



After the roots are all freed and wrapped, • 1 . i 11 orv r i • 1 



the trunk is securely fastened to this cradle and impractical tO Carry a ball 30 feet Wide Weigh- 



it is pulled over by the tackle and screw. ing fifty tons. We always find that evergrecus 



This is our method of 

 Dig under the roots 

 j first, then cave down the soil 

 with a picking bar or round 

 pointed fork. 



