Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-11-16
Transplanting Nut.Bearing
Trees.

In some unaccOuntable manner the
idea that all kinds of nut-bearing trees
are difficult to transplant and made to
live has become widespread among
those who are most directly interested
in such operations. 1t is also surpris-
ing how much more tenaciously an
error will cling to life and become dis
seminated than q truth which might
be of vast benefit to all who endeavor
to profit by it. Many of the most ab-
surd practices of those tillers of the soil
who hourished centuries ago are still in
vogue among us in spite of our hoasted
progress and intelligence. We will
not weary onr readers by giving list
of the nOnsensical ideas which have
been handed down to US regarding the
cultivation of plants or the rearing of
animals, as 1t will serve our purpose at
this time to simply call attention to the
one which relates to the transplanting
of nut.bearing trees.
1.-The notion seems to prevail among
large class of persons who ought to
know better that these kind of trees
cannot be transplanted in the same
manner as apples, pears and other
fruits, and the error is frequently pro-
mulgated by some of our leading agri-
cultural and horticultural journals. AS
an instance of these false teachings, we
quote the following from recent issue
of one of the Oldest agricultural papers
published in this State. In reply to a
correspondents question, the editor
says: SIN making chestnut plantations
the seed should always be planted
where the trees are to remain" No
reason is given for such absurd advice,
and we are free to say that no good one
can be given; for every person who has
had any experience in handling such
trees knows that chestnut may be
transplanted as readily, and with as
good results, as the apple or the pear.
OF course it is not to be supposed that a
man can go into the woods and pull or
dig up lot of young chestnut trees and
plant them out again with the same
prospects of success as he could a lot of
apple or pear trees from nursery, for
the latter have been prepared for trans
planting by special processes well
known to every nurSeryman.
Apple and pear seeds are first sown
in seed beds, from whence they are re-
moved when one or two years old, the
tap root being shortened during the Op-
GRAFTON, and, when again set out, the
result of this pruding and removal is a
large number OF side and lateral roots,
runningAear the surface of the ground.
| IL the seedlings are left in the seed beds
or rows, and budded or grated without
removal, they would have one princi-
pal perpendicular, or "tap root" as it is
termed, and very few side or lateral
70 1rrnI,
trees and make them live might be
difficult and uncertain operation. But
our worthy and experienced contem-
porary would never advise planting
apple and pear tree seed "where the
trees are to remain" in orchards; and
we are at loss to know why it should
recommend the treating of chestnut or
other nut bearing trees in this manner.
1t must know that these trees have
been successfully transplanted from the
nurseries is Europe ever since garden
ing has been practiced as an art. Mil
lions of chestnut trees have also been
raised from the seed in this country and
distributed broadcast over the land,
and if they have in any instance failed
to grow it cannot be attributed to their
delicate nature of lack of vitality.
1t is the dissemination of erroneous
ideas regarding the facility with which
our nut-hearing trees may be trans
planted that has discouraged in a great
measure their propagation and cultiva-
ton. In Europe, where everybody ap-
pears to know that nut trees can be
readily removed without loss, they are
in great demand, and, as a result, the
city of Paris can boast of more Ameri-
can oaks growing within her limits,
and transplanted trees at that, than can
be found in all Of our larger cities and
public parks combined. Now it is
quite time that all this nonsense about
planting seeds where the trees are to
grow as necessity, or even from an
economical point of view, was obliter-
ated from our horticultural literature,
for it is as absurd and unscientific as
the old notion that transplanting should
be done in the old or new moon.
We will venture to say that the peach
and almond are as difficult trees to
transplant as any one of our native for
est trees; but, through habit, we have
become accustomed to set them out in
orchards, and nobody thinks there is
any mystery or difficulty to be encoun-
tered in performing the operation. The
same result would follow from like
familiarity with daks, chestnuts and
other nut-bearing trees. All that is re-
nuired to insure successful transplant.
Ing OF such trees is to treat them in the
same manner as we do our various
kinds OF fruit-trees-that is, transplant
the Seeding when one or two years
old, cutting off the tap-roOt in order to
secure free emission of side or lateral
roots, the greater part of which can be
left attached to the tree when removed
from one place to another. There is, it
is true, a difference in trees as regards
their sensitiveness to the disturbance
of their roots, some being transplanted
more easily than others; hence greater
care may be required i'm removing
hickOries than willows, but this is no
good reason for discouraging the rear
ing and transplanting of the former.
If the preparatory processes are as care
fully attended to with the nut trees as
with our fruits and ornamental kinds.
no greater obstacles will be met in the
way of their successful culture.
If our farmers desire plantations of
oaks, hickories, chestnuts, black wal
nuts and butternuts they have only to
raise seedlings in nursery-rooms and
seed beds, then transplant and prune
as they would any other tree, without
fear of severe losses. This is not said
as theory, but from actual experience
extending over many years, and with
nearly every species of tree found in
our forests, besides hundreds from
other parts of the world. We would as
soon undertake to plant hundred or
thousand acres with chestnut trees from
one to ten years old as ofapple trees of
the same age. And, further, we think
a man would be just as foolish to plant
apple seeds where the trees are to grow
in an orchard of this extent as chest
nuts.-M Y. 1Sua.
GEN. EARLY. in introducing Gen.