Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1871-10-07
Transmitting Lnvsc Trees

Mr.. O. c. Billiard, Supcrintcn
dent of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, y
Y, communicates to the Scientific
American the following particulars
relative to the transpIanting OF largo
trees. This work has been cXtcn,
sivcly and successfully done in va,
rious parts of the grounds under
his care.
We have planted nearly 1900
trees of from five inches to two feet
diameter, with a very small per
centage Of loss. Relying upon q
few simple principles, healthy, Wig,
orous trees, Of almost any size, may
be safely transplantcl. There are
of course, exceptions. With some
varities, as the hickory and other
essentially tap.rootcd trees it is al
most useless to experiment. Those
with soft, succulcnt roots like the
sweet gum, sassaIras, and some OF
the magnoias, are difficult TO man.
age. 70 insure success, it is i'm
portant to take with the tree mass
Of earth, prcporlionatc to its size
which shall contain " large part OF
the fibrous or feeding roots unin.
iured. This accomplished, the tree
may be moved without the neccs-
sity ofmaterial!y damaging its form
or losing its character The leaf
aec should be reduced somewhat in
proportion to the necessary damage
Of roots. Much, however, will de-
pend, in this mattor, upon the vigor
of the tree when moved, what the
changc is TO be, whether from a
poor soil to Il better, or the reverse,
from Il sheltered locality to more
exposure, or otherwise. Ny system
/ of pruning large trees which have
been transpIantcd,is is (if the form is
satisfactory to thin out over and
through the entire head, cutting as
few large limbs as possible, and re-
ducine the outline only by cutting
back the leading twigs or small
branches at their points Of junction
with the larger branches.
The trees with which weA iaTC
been most successful are the naples,
Gins, lindens (American and, Faro.
pean), hornbeams, some Of the oaks.
and birches. These for the most
part have abundant tibrogs roots
reasonably near the stem o. thc tree
We dig Liberal trench a:otnd q
bail Of earth and roots, varying in
size from six to thirteen feet diam
ctcr, according TO size OF tree. The
roots are smoothly cut nc far from
the tree as they can be oafely re-
tainet. The trench is carried be-
low the roots, and the excavation
well under the ball, leaving only n
small pedestal. Timbers and chains
are securely placed undc: the ball,
to the latter, sOavy tackles, attach
cd to the wintlassos ofthe tree truck
are fastened, and the tree is then
raised in an upright position far
enough to clear the ground in con-
veying it to the new home. In
planting, the excavation to receive
the tree is dug much larger than
the root ball, and deeper than its
thickness. Good loan or soil is
filled in to the required depth, and
the tree lowered on this bed, the
greatest care being taken to proper
IL place and cover all exposed roots
Composted manure is mixed with
the soil that does rot come direct
in contact with the roots.
Our trees make but little growth
the two first years. New roots a.C
forming and getting well hold o.
the rich food furnished them. The
third wear, and sometimes the sec
ond. they are among our most wig
orous trees. During the summer
( following planting, and Unnecessary
the second summer we Inulch th'
trees literally with fresh cut grass
and water If the season he dry