SHADE TREE PLANTING 
79 
In digging a tree for transplanting the entire root 
system should be taken up, with particular attention to 
the small roots, for it is through these fine rootlets that the 
tree secures its nourishment from the soil. The one 
thing most essential is to keep the roots moist during 
the journey. A root that is allowed to dry out loses its 
vitality and becomes worthless. 
Sometimes it is necessary to transplant trees of larger 
diameter than three inches, as in the case of replacing a 
tree where its companions are of considerable size. This 
can be done by digging the specimen with a large ball of 
earth about the roots. This earth serves to hold the 
moisture and also protects the roots from injury in 
handling, but of even more importance it keeps the roots 
in close contact with the soil so that growth can be con¬ 
tinued without the tree having to reestablish its growing 
connection by sending out new rootlets. In many cities 
municipal nurseries are maintained and trees of various 
size are available for replacing those which die. This is 
one of the important functions of a nursery maintained 
by the city, as it is desirable, of course, that the new tree 
should be, as nearly as possible, of uniform size with the 
other trees on the street. A municipal nursery prepares 
these trees for transplanting by a process of checking the 
spread of roots as the trees grow. To accomplish this the 
trees are root pruned at least every two years. In the case 
of the larger trees, a trench is dug around, which results in 
forcing the roots to develop compactly, so that the speci¬ 
men may be planted in the restricted area of street 
surroundings without trimming the roots at the time of 
moving. 
The tree planter’s responsibility begins with the 
arrival of the tree from the nursery, and he should use 
care to see that the precautions taken by the shipper are 
