Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1911 — Transplanting of Trees Is a Feat [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Transplanting of Trees Is a Feat

Big Ones Dug Up, Moved And Set Out Where Desired. The work of transplanting big trees Is perhaps the most wonderful of all tbe feats which the landscape gardener of today accomplishes. As yon might dig op a rosebush and carry it from one border to another, so does be dig up some stately woodland giant and carry It bodily to new ground, perhaps miles from Its birthplace. It is a work that requires the highest engineering skill and the deepest knowledge of horticultural science. Tbe trees should be moved in midwinter. when the earth surrounding tbe roots Is frozen solid, so that it may be handled'without breaking up. For most trees not over twelve inches In diameter a ball of earth one foot In diameter and as deep as tbe roots, usually about four or five feet, would be sufficient to transplant with tbe tree

Tbe usual method employed In moving a big tree is as follows: When the bole has been dug around tbe roots tbe tree is pulled to one side and the excavated earth thrown under iL It is then pulled in tbe opposite way. and tbe hole Is again filled np. this process being continued until tbe tree Is grad daily uplifted and may easily be lowered on to wooden supports erected for the purpose. Any branches that may drag on tbe ground are now se curely tied up. and any necessary trimming is attended to. Tbe trunk Is then firmly attached In an upright position to the rear of the wagon, and the tree is ready to be carried to its new site.

When It has arrived at the place which It is to adorn in tbe future It Is rolled off from the wagon into the hole and is easily raised to an upright position by horses and ropes. The roots of the tree will be now very liable to injury, and tare must be taken In order to encourage n proper growth to water the ball of earth with rhe utmost regularity. The ball of earth will be liable to shrink and so allow tbe air to reach rbe roots, with disastrous effect, and. moreover, unless precautions are taken tbe porous soil surrounding tbe dry ball will absorb all the moisture Intended for the roots.

Even in freezing weather the roots of a tree that has been dng up are very liable to Injnry and should be

protected by a covering of straw litter. Water should be sprinkled over the sides of the ball, thus covering it with a solid coating of ice. Should a thaw set in straw and leaves will preserve the frozen ball for weeks, thus allowing time for the roots to recover from the rude shock they received. Trees by this method have been transplanted up to a weight of forty tons and when care has been taken have suffered no ill effects.

TREE MOVING MACHINE AT WORK.