New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-07
TRANSATLANTIC LARGE TREES.
COLONEL CULVER TELLS HOW 1T OUGHT to

BE DONE To INSURE SUCCESS
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Cir. Many persons to whom the desire comes 10
plant trees express wish TO secure WIFI '"eS ,
a large ttee-somethlng they can look al now VIZ"
a sort OF Hfling feeling and that expresses s'o"e
tree personaity-a ready made tree IN lac'' so'''V
thing after the Minerva affair OF ancient uhe'.
But we have no Jove In the tree business an"
the transplantng OF mature trees must be uhde'-
taken understandingly and on an entlrey "o'luS
basis.
For the purposes of designation. tree six inches
or more in diameter may he said to be large Tree
where the moving OF II from one situation 10 an
other Is to be considered 1t Is not that large trees
NAV not be successfully transpanted; 1t has heen
done effectively In many places. Perhaps IN all
respects the satisfactory results Oh the KIM III
number variety and sizes Of trees. both deciduous
and evergreen. were obtained In prospect FarK III
Mr. Olmsted's time by machinery devised at ms
suggestion by the writer. but these results as were
other similarly successful ones elsewhere. were
secured and all others must he. by the employment
OF mechanical appliances devised for the purpose
and the most careful preparation for removal ana
trained intelligent handling throughout All the
processes OF moving. transportation and planting
IL may he inferred therefore. that certain pre-
existing conditions will only Justify In general snch
undertakings. These principally are first, purpose
to preserve good tree endangered for known
reasons In It's present status, or one with the view
10 securing 1t permanently one to when sentiment
and endearing associations attached; or. second
the prese walton Of a choice specimen, which, Ike
ali others in this class must be sound and vigor-
Gus. characterlsticay developed and otherwise
under careful examination promising success after
1t or they shall have been removed and planted
All stages OF the work important Trees
grown in good open ground and soil or where Guilt
walton has prevailed conhne their roots more
closely within a much more crcumscribed area
about the base of the tree than those found on
meagre soil. In the case OF forest trees. The
feeding hbres are extended toward the ends OF the
growing roots hence. TO insure the fullest and de-
sired vigor to the transplanted tree II is essential
take up with the greatest ALL or 10 as large
an extent as possible of the many radiatng fibre
furnished roots often this work Is OF too pains
taking nature and too costly for the empirical tree
mover who has undertaken to move the tree as ne
would a mass OF stones or cordwood. and, conse-
quently. this necessary work is sighted beyond
restricted area where the roots are mangled ana
severed by spade axe and the first, and often
times fatal error has been committed. ,-
kind a full and comparatively compact rootage will
mischance in bad handling If they live, viii be
marked by developed preventable dishgire-
| ments and thus fan short OF the very purpose In
mind In some instances iudcious pruning or cut
ting In may precede or follow transplanting, but
! this work must be judcious. and not done by
wood butcher. In some cases and with good re-
suits trees may be prepared for removal season
vigorous varieties and younger which range from
six nine inches In diameter. This may be done by
making a circular trench sufficiently distant from
the base a substantial body OF roots. and
by filing I'm the trench with rich soil new growth
| OF compact hbres will be secured in time for sue
cessful moving. the tree being lifted as nearly up
| right from the pit az possible and continued In
that position and lowered into Its resting place.
! Some OF those engaged In this work observe these
conditions 10 their advantage. but more often than
otherwise ! fear. the tree is dragged almost pros
! trate from the ground and drawn along its top
or head filed with tender branches thrashing and
ultimately bruised TO the final Disagreement re-
| ferred TO
Under all these conditions. II will be seen that
| the proper removal of large trees must involve Il
considerable expenditure and that I'm order TO in
sure success all favorable conditions must be
avalled Of and In cities. at least, this Is rarely
| practicable. where our streets. encountered with
substantial pavements, sewer gas and water pipes
etc. do not allow the digging OF pit OF the size
NECESSARY & permit planting space for this class
As rule. for all general planting street planting
! included. young sound nursery raised trees. from
two 10 three inches in diameter with good pro-
portioned development compact nbrous roots Will
In the end prove most satisfactory TO one who will
wisely indulge himself In the pleasure OF planting
| tree
always be planting tree, Sandy II will be
| growing while you're sleeping"
New-York, Nov. 49, 1899 JOHN Y. CULVER.