Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1875 — Transplant Small Trees. [ARTICLE]

Transplant Small Trees.

When selecting frees of any sort to transplant the aim always should be to choose those that are small and thrifty rather than large ones that have grown little or none at all during a year or two past. It is a grave mistake to conclude that large trees when removed and transplanted will commence bearing much sooner than small trees. When trees are only one or two years old, if the roots are removed with the stems, they will grow rapidly bj r the first season after being transplanted. But if trees are large it will be difficult to remove the roots. Hence large frees will be far more liable to die than small ones. Or if they live the roots will be so badly mutilated that young trees will soon be much larger than large ones. In order to live and grow luxuriantly trees, when taken up, must have a mat of roots. ' It is difficult to persuade our impatient planters into a proper system of reducing the heads of their trees. They will search the country over for large frees—“the larger the better”—and then they will not remove an inch of their wood; that would be directly opposed to their principle—their motto, “ the larger the better.” Experience, however, will remedy this; but it will be dearly bought in many cases. The experienced cultivator, when he goes to purchase trees, or select them for planting, will endeavor to procure first-rate sorts; and instead of looking merely at the height of the trees, will see that they have thrifty, stout bodies and good roots; the mere matter of height is of no importance to him, if everything else be right. The inexperienced, as a general thing,- will cast his eye around for the tallest tree, and have that if he can, regarding all the other considerations of minor importance. What a mistake he makes! If circumstances connected with the weather, the soil, or the time of planting be unfavorable, you may have left too much of head or side branches on your trees, the growth of the top may not be seconded or aided by the roots sufficiently, and the free will either stand still or flag’ and die. In such cases the remedy, in addition to that already alluded to, will be cutting back closer, thus reducing the growing surface and lessening the demand upon the roots. We have often had to cut back closertkan we wished to make the tree start vigorously. Last season we planted some peartrees in a damaged state, apparently quite hopeless cases, all dried and shriveled up. Some we pruned every branch off the stem, leaving only one eye at the base of each, to make a new branch. Others we cut stem and all off within a foot of tlie ground. Nearly all lived; but while the former made but an inch or two of growth of young branches the latter threw up numerous strong branches from a foot to two feet in length, and in the autumn were mucu the handsomest and best trees, better rooted and every way superior to those that were not headed in. Many of our peach-trees were cut back three times before tlie new growth would start.— N. Y. Herald. - ______