Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-04-26
Correspondence of the Grand River Eagle.
WHY TREES ARE LOST IN TRANS
PLA NTING

Notwithstanding all that has been said and
written in reference to the transplanting of
trees-notwthstanding full and explicit direc.
tions have been given by scientific and expert
enced cultivators, and reiterated time and again,
great numbers of trees are lost every year thro'
unskillful handling and the neglect of some of
the plainest dictates of common sense and we
are often met with complaints by the sufferers
in these cases. will try to point out some Of
the causes which procure disappointment to the
planter.
First, want of suitable preparation of the
SOIL Perhaps it is clay or pan soil, so hard
that it is difficult to dig hole for the tree with
out pick-ax. A hole is dug just big enough
to admit the roots Sometimes not even enough
for this, without bending them; and the tree is
put into it, set pretty much as you would set a
gate post. Now, how can the young, tender
rootlets penetrate the walls of their prison
Some who wish to be very thorough, dig the
hole deep enough for post, and put in BUSH
ell or so of strong manure, on which they plant
the tree, and then wonder that it don't grow
Tell them the manure is killing it, and they will
be much amazed. "Why, | thought manure
was good for trees, isn't it 2" Of course it is ;
but, do you like peppersauce! "Why, yes"
Well, do you drain quart bottle every day at
dinner? II is too much of good thing, and
in the wrong place. IF the soil is not rich
enough it should be made so, but the enriching
materials should be incorporated with it, and
become part and parcel of it. Fresh manure
should never touch the roots of tree or be
placed directly under it. Make your soil mel.
low to so great distance that the roots may
extend without interruption as far as they can
possibly grow during the season-latterly, not
downwards, and if you wish to apply manure,
mix it thoroughly with the soil, or use it for
mulching on the surface for the double purpose
of moisture and enriching the ground gradually
as it becomes decomposed by rain. The only
objection | know of to this last course, is, that
some Of the most valuable portions escape in
the atmosphere. think it very important that
a newly planted tree be mulched with something.
The method of pruning performed at the
time of transplanting exerts great influence
on the vigor of the tree, and believe there is
avery general msapprehension as to the amount
Of pruning necessary. The old rule Diminish
the tops in degree corresponding with the loss
of root" is unquestionably correct; but the
mistake is in estimating loss of root. The fact
is, trees, as usually taken from the nursery, es.
pecially if of large size, lose more than nine
twentieths of feeding root, and the mode of
nursery training that is, or has been prevalent,
greatly enhance the difficulty. The root Of a
tree does naturally correspond with its top. If
this be trimmed to a long slender stem, with
few branches and these at the extreme top, the
roots, too, will be long and slender with most
of their fbres at the extremities while il the
tree be stocky in the nursery, with plenty of
side branches near the ground, the roots will
likewise be strong and supplied throughout
their length with fbres. 1t is common to trim
trees up at transplanting. Iprefer to trim down
TO shorten. If Of the extreme slender sort,
cut the tops all off, shorten the stem from one
fourth to one.haf. If of the stocky kind, and
there are branches at the right point to form the
head, trim up to these and cut off all above
them, leaving only three to FIVE which may be
shortened if need be. w. nj. WYLIE.