AUGUST I, 1902 
. A) NE of our correspondents has lately raised 
a question about the theory of shortening 
roots and tops at transplanting. Wedoa 
great many things the true philosophy of 
“which we could not give and this may be 
.one of them. No doubt we all have ideas 
-on the subject and perhaps correct ones in 
many respects. It may be that: something 
more of importance in our work can be 
brought out by discussion of this subject. 
I make no pretensions to a complete under- 
.standing of it, but I think we should have 
reasons for what we do and be able to give 
them. 
Now a theory is worth nothing that is not 
‘borne out by facts. Indeed, a true theory is 
generally a deduction drawn from a series 
-of facts. In any case, the theory and the 
facts must correspond. 
We’ will, perhaps, all agree that a tree or 
-plant growing where the seed was planted 
_does not need ‘its roots cut or changed ‘in 
_any way to enable it to attain its best de- 
-velopment, but we will doubtless disagree 
_about the matter of cutting the branches in 
different degrees and after different styles, 
-which we call pruning, and some would not 
.cut them at all. The evident purpose of 
-the tree or plant is to make wood and to 
propagate or reproduce its species. When 
we bring these same things under culture we 
generally have different purposes in view 
‘than those which are strictly natural, such as 
the production of large fruit, or excessive de- 
-yelopment of flower, root, or leaf. There- 
fore we may need to divert or oppose nature 
in several directions or degrees. 
In carrying out our ideas we are almost 
.sure to need to transplant the greater part 
.of those things which we cultivate, and to be 
able todo this in the quickest and most suc- 
cessful way is one of the very desirable 
things to know. Different trees and plants 
will require different treatment, but there are~ 
.certain principles that are quite generally 
, applicable. mS: 
When a tree or plant of any kind -is 
taken up a part of its roots are almost surely 
.cut or torn away. They generally extend 
much further than we imagine. ‘The feeding 
_roots are mostly on the extremities, and are 
_called root hairs and spongioles. They are 
so delicate that they can rarely be removed 
from the soil and replanted in a new place 
_with safety. The absorbing of all the water 
used by the entire tree or plant, to the tip 
of the furthest branch, is done by these little 
vorgans. If they are not present or are 
sseriously injured growth cannot proceed 
vuntil they are restored. Nature alone can 
19 
restore them, and this ability must lie with- 
in the plant. If it does not, then death is 
sure to follow. 
Most trees and herbs, 
the faculty of storing plant food in 
their roots, and in many cases in 
their tops as well, for their future use. 
This plant food we often use as food for 
ourselves, as in the case of turnips, beets, 
potatoes, onions, cabbages, and many other 
vegetables. It is done to some extent by 
nature in the twigs and buds of trees and 
shrubs. Animals find good food in many 
such things, and birds sometimes feed upon 
buds in winter time. The storehouses of 
nature are drawn upon for the growth of 
flowers and seeds very largely, and also for 
general growth. -This-ca1, be’ seen by set- 
ting cuttings of various kinds of trees in 
moist soil, and then observing their beha- 
-too, have 
viour. _I once set_a,lot..of..cuttings of. 
“hickory, oak, maple, and many others that 
I knew would not strike root, just to see what 
they would do. ‘The kinds having large buds 
were the first to start, and some of them 
‘made shoots and leaves of considerable size, 
but all died for lack of roots to sustain them. 
The growth was the result of the food and 
vital force stored in the buds and wood. A 
cutting that will grow is one that has the 
peculiar ability to strike roots easily, and thus ~ 
get food and wateér from the soil to maintain 
the growth begun by the parts above ground. 
Young trées or plants of: any ‘kind “have a » 
considerable degree of these vital elements 
within their structures, and when they are 
transplanted there must be the proper con- 
ditions for their development or success can 
not follow. These requirements are variable, 
of course, but warmth, moisture, aerated 
soil, and available plant food are essential in 
all cases, in some degree. ‘They have the 
ability to force growth, of both root and | 
“branches ‘if given anything like proper oppor- ~ 
tunity. Asa large part of the vital force lies 
in those parts of young plants nearest the 
collar, as‘all who have closely observed’ them 
have doubtless noticed, it is plain that there- 
in also lie our best opportunities for causing 
their future development. ‘This is true, 
whether it be young annual plants grown 
from seeds, such as those of the tomato, cab- 
bage, beet, celery, petunia, pansy, etc., or those | 
of the strawberry, raspberry, grape, apple, 
peach, and all others of a woody nature. 
vigorous growth while the plants are young, 
but not when they are old, except in rare 
cases. ae 
From the above statement of facts it is 
Sy TRANSPLANTING. - A Bys H. E. VAN DEMAN. ee 
easy to understand why we have found it to 
be true to our practice that it is beneficial to 
cut away the more delicate and vigorous 
parts of both root and top when we trans- 
plant. If we cut them back to where the 
vital forces are greatest we will get the 
quickest and most vigorous response to our 
efforts to induce new growth. Nature will 
immediately begin the process of the re- 
establishment of the natural functions of the 
plant by sending out new rootlets and new 
shoots and leaves, provided the proper con- 
ditions of temperature and moisture exist. 
But, if these conditions are not present, then 
the results will be proportionately unfavour- 
able. For instance, if the ends of the roots, 
where the growth should normally begin, are 
so deep in the ground that the soil is not 
warm enough to start growth quickly, then 
the plants may fail either partially or entirely. 
We occasionally see trees that have been 
planted so deeply that they dwindle and some- 
times die. In some cases the roots die, par- 
tially from lack of sufficient air in the soil, as 
where earth is filled in deeply about large 
trees. 
When all the conditions of soil, tempera- 
ture, climate, and plant food are fayourable, 
it is better to cut back both top and root be- 
fore planting, especially if the trees or plants 
are small. This is the basis of the String- 
fellow method of planting, as I understand 
it. I have tested this plan repeatedly with 
trees as well as with tender plants, during the 
last 40 years. It works very well under proper 
conditions, but not unless they are just right. 
In my opinion, that is why it is more appli- 
cable in the southern States, where the cli- 
mate is milder, than in the north, where it is 
more severe and changeable and the soil 
more compact. ‘ 
In cutting back the tops the main benefit 
is from lessening evaporation. . It.is, perhaps, 
generally well understood that the leaves 
and other parts of a plant that are above 
ground evaporate great quantities of water-in 
the growing season, and an appreciable but 
much smaller portion in the dormant season. 
This water must be supplied by the roots 
from that stored in the earth. Until the 
roots are well established we should endea- 
vour to make this draft as light as possible 
by lessening the evaporating surface. 
These statements and explanations com- 
_ prise the elementary principles of transplant- 
From these parts we can get the most ~ 
ing, as I understand them, and if they are 
lucid enough to transmit a knowledge of 
them to others, who, like myself, are seeking 
knowledge, then have my efforts been suffi- 
ciently rewarded.—California Fruitgrower. 
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