SHIFTING FRUIT TREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 5

SHIFTING FRUIT TREES.

DEALING WITH EVERGREENS. One sometimes desires to shift some fruit tree to another position. With a deciduous tree this is quite an easy matter. but if the tree happens to be an evergreen one may be puzzled to know what to do. A deciduous tree may be transported to its new place, at any time during its dormant period, and it will send out shoots and roots together in the spring and thus establish itself without effect front the shift. When it happens to be ail evergreen tree, however, such as a lemon or a guava it, is necessary to first wrench the trees and then to wait about six weeks before shifting. On the wrenching depends the success of the whole matter. The wrenching consists of digging around the tree and severing the main roots. The distance out from the tree-trunk at. which this is done varies according to the tree, but for a medium-sized subject the roots should bo severed about 12in. out. After the roots are severed a fork should be used to raiso the tree about 2in. or oin. to break any taproot that it might have, and it is then stamped into its former place. The effect of wrenching is to prepare the tree for the final shift by allowing it to receive the check in two stages. Wrenching causes the tree to produce a lot of fibrous roots when the main ones are cut. These fibrous roots are produced to take tho place of all those along the lengths of the severed main roots, and, being all formed within, the limits of the circle where the spado was used, form a mat of roots close in. This mass of newly-formed root serves two purposes. It helps to hold the soil together when the tree is being shifted, and tho young roots quickly establish themselves in their new quarters.

The best time to shift evergreen trees is in the autumn or the early spring. The winter is not a good time, but it is by no means an unheard-of thing for evergreens to be shifted then. If the trees have not been wrenched properly they will have less chance of recovering from the shock when the soil is in a sodden state than if planted, beforo or after the winter. A safo vulo which orchardisls should kgjep is that if the tree cannot be - established properly hefore winter delay the t&msportation until August or early Scptomb^