PARK AND CEMETERY. 
239 
TRANSPLANTING ELMS IN HUMBOLDT PARK, CHICAGO. 
the ball. A good team hitched onto the rope will 
pull with the help of double pulleys any tree that 
a wagon will carry. The rolling off from the 
wagon into the hole is done in the same manner, 
only in place of tying the trunk of the tree to the 
wagon it is fastened to a crowbar that at the proper 
distance from the wagon has been driven into the 
frozen ground in a slanting position to prevent the 
rope from slipping. The tree, after it has been 
rolled into the hole, is now easily raised by a good 
team of horses. In reference to the hole, I may 
add that it should at least be large enough to allow 
room for from 1 to 2 feet of good black soil around 
the tree, and on sandy or stony land, considerably 
more. 
Plenty of canvas or other material to protect 
any part of the tree from being injured, either from 
ropes or from pulling it on or off the wagon, should 
always be on hand; also short pieces of plank for 
blocking up the carriers of the wagon to avoid 
breaking when the tree is pulled on, and also be- 
tween the ball and the wagon, to permit an easy 
rolling. A piece of old rubber hose nailed onto 
the top of the horses is deemed necessary to protect 
the trunk from barking off. 
Trees transplanted after this method never fail 
to grow if properly attended with watering during 
the first three years, and, if extreme dry weather 
sets in, even for a longer period. Not enough stress 
can be laid on this point, which, to my experience, 
is the only fault found. To illustrate, I shall com- 
pare a tree transplanted in this way Jo a plant cul- 
tivated in a flower pot. In both instances, if per- 
mitted to get dry, the ball will contract to such an 
extent as to leave an open space all around the ball, 
thus permitting the hot air to penetrate the soil to 
the full depth of the ball, and as it is here that new 
root action is encouraged, it is readily understood 
how disastrous neglect of watering will be; besides, 
it becomes very difficult to saturate the once dry 
ball, the more porous soil surrounding it absorbing 
all the moisture. In severe freezing weather the 
roots of a tree that has been dug are liable to be 
injured and should be protected by a covering of 
straw litter or by a sprinkling of water all over the 
sides of the ball, thus covering it with a solid coat- 
ing of ice. Should thaw weather set in a good 
covering of straw or leaves will preserve the 
frozen ball for weeks. 
There is undoubtedly room for argument both 
against and for transplanting large trees, but it 
must be admitted that, if properly taken care of, 
success is sure to come. Nevertheless, ruins of 
once stately trees, the result of such attempts, are 
to be seen everywhere. 
The trees referred to in these notes are elms, 
the only kind that can be successfully moved at a 
mature age. I have transplanted almost every genus 
that is grown in these parts, but none with such 
satisfaction as the elm. Jas. Jensen. 
Prof. S. A. Knapp, has returned from the Orient 
where he went for Secretary Wilson of the depart- 
ment of agriculture on a mission to gather seeds of 
staple agricultural products for sowing in the south- 
ern states, and to promote the export trade of the 
United States in certain lines of industry. He re- 
turns well satisfied with the result of his labors. 
He found in Japan rice seed much superior to that 
used in the south, and also several new foreign 
plants and fruit trees. He has also arranged to 
ship simples of American products to various 
eastern countries. He also visited the Philip- 
pines. 
