Building a fence between us and Mrs. Richardson.

May 2.

Saturday. Building a fence between us and Mrs. Richardson. 

In digging the holes I find the roots of small apple trees, seven or eight feet distant and four or more inches in diameter, two feet underground, and as big as my little finger. This is two or three feet beyond any branches. They reach at least twice as far as the branches. The branches get trimmed, the roots do not.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, May 2, 1857