DWARF STANDARD PEAR-TREF.S. 
w 
slope of the ground ; and the principal roots 
ought to be placed horizontally, at from six to 
nine inches below the surface. 
The process of transplantation involves many 
considerations. It is necessary to remember 
that the roots of plants are the organs through 
whose agency they derive much of their 
nourishment from the soil ; the extreme points 
of the roots, or spongioles, acting as mouths, 
and imbibing the sustenance necessary to 
maintain their vitality. Plants having vital 
powers adapted to their peculiar nature, these 
powers require to be kept in full exercise, if 
the greatest amount of success is to be at- 
tained ; in order to this, they must be supplied 
with as much food as they are capable of con- 
suming. It is therefore evident, that in trans- 
planting successfully, the fibrous roots must, 
as much as possible, be preserved from injury; 
and, when placed in their new position, the 
elements of growth must be within their reach. 
Two of the most powerful agents in inducing 
growth are heat and moisture combined ; but 
the pulverization of the soil is also of great im- 
portance. For some distance around the plants, 
the soil should, at least, be equally stirred 
and loosened ; and none but fine earth should 
be put in immediate contact with the roots. 
Supposing the soil prepared as already 
noticed, the next operation is to prepare a pit 
for each plant. If the situation is dry, and 
the soil light, this may be done, as already 
directed, by taking out enough soil to bring the 
main roots about six inches below the surface, 
from whence they are to be led out, in all 
directions, in a slightly-inclined plane ; but the 
space when taken out should be large enough 
for all the roots to be laid out quite straight, 
without being crumpled, or crossed, or bent in 
any way : the roots, in fact, ought to be laid 
as regularly and evenly as the branches of a 
tree carefully trained against a wall, according 
to the fan-fashion. If the situation is wet, 
and the soil heavy, the surface must be pre- 
pared in a similar manner, and the roots laid 
out, and then covered over by an addition of 
soil above the surface ; so only can the plants 
be guarded from the injurious effect of too 
much moisture in the soil. When the roots 
are laid out, they should be gently covered with 
fine soil, shaking it regularly and evenly among 
them; a portion of the soil may then be 
covered over them, and then, in most cases, it 
is desirable to give them a good soaking of 
water, in order to settle the earth, and as soon 
as this has soaked in, the remainder of the 
soil is to be added, and left without consolida- 
tion, quite even on the surface. The plant, if 
furnished with any extent of branches, should 
be staked immediately, to prevent its being 
blown about by the wind, than which nothing 
is more hurtful to newly-planted trees. One 
of the firmest ways of tieing trees is by means 
of three stakes placed at equal distances around 
the plant, the base sloping outward, and the 
upper end of each meeting together at two or 
three feet up the stem : the advantage of this 
plan is, that the plant is able to meet the force 
of the wind blowing from any point ; while a 
single upright stake is acted on alike on all 
sides, and has but little power of resistance. 
Theplants should be selected from a respect- 
able nurseryman's stock, and then no fear 
need be entertained but that they will be 
" lifted " (as the operation of taking them up 
is technically termed) in a proper manner, 
without serious injury to the roots. If the 
produce of the trees is the object, it is always 
better and cheaper to pay a somewhat higher 
price for the article, and have this operation 
carefully performed, than to be tempted by any 
semblance of cheapness to become possessed of 
plants which have been torn up by some care- 
less operator. Were it possible to preserve 
every root and minute fibre in the removal of 
a tree, it would be desirable to do so, and 
success would be proportionately more certain ; 
but as this is impracticable, the least possible 
amount of injury should be inflicted — bearing 
in mind that it is not by the coarse roots that 
the absorption of food is carried on, but by the 
youngest parts, and especially by the spon- 
gioles. Under any circumstances, a portion of 
the roots will be mutilated, and, in this case, 
the bruised parts should be removed, by cut- 
ting them with a sharp knife, at rather an 
obtuse angle. This aids the formation of new 
roots, while the bruised parts, if suffered to 
remain, would probably decay, and communi- 
cate injury to the adjacent parts. 
The most successful time for performing the 
operation, is in the early part of the autumnal 
months, as soon after the leaves have become 
matured as possible. Trees and shrubs have 
been, and may be, with care, removed at any 
season of the year ; but then it is by an accu- 
mulation of favourable circumstances, or else 
by great care and attention, that success is 
secured. The early part of the autumn seems, 
however, to be clearly pointed out as the most 
fitting period ; for then plants of this nature 
are as much at rest as at any period, — and the 
