194 SUBURBAN GARDENS 
mined by the spread of the branches, for these 
usually reach outward above ground about as 
far as the roots do below. A crow-bar or pick- 
axe should be used to loosen the soil, with inter- 
ludes of removing this with spade or shovel. 
Work always sidewise to the plant and parallel 
with the line of root growth; which is of 
course, generally speaking, outward from the 
center like the spokes of a wheel; or else work 
with back to the plant, until the root tips have 
been uncovered anyway. This avoids cutting 
across the roots and saves a much greater per- 
centage of them than the more careless method 
of working around the plant, facing it. 
Gradually its hold may be loosened by tip- 
ping it forward and back and lifting on it 
gently, as the soil is continually picked apart 
and scraped away from between and beneath 
the roots. Follow all long roots away and 
down as far as may be necessary to free their 
tips, and never yank at the plant or use violence 
to liberate it. A strong, steady pull, with per- 
sistent loosening of the earth where the strain 
shows its hold to be strongest, will bring the 
tenderest root fibers out uninjured, whereas 
a quick jerk would snap great woody growths 
in two. 
Once out of the ground, root pruning and 
