St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-26
VOL. L.
agricultural.
How to set ont Trees.

Line upon line and preccpt upon
precept," may be as profitable now as
in Bible times. At any rate, we shall
be justified for reproducing the follow
ing, which we condense from the Amer
lean Agriculturist:
We advise to set out most kinds OF
fruit trees in the fall, as soon as may
be after the leaves have dropped from
them. Peach, apricot, and nectarine
trees are transplanted more safely in
the spring, as early as the ground will
admit being worked.
In taking up trees, great care should
be taken to save unbroken as many as
possible of the very small roots and
fibres, even those so minute as to be
scarcely seen. Upon the number OF
these, which arc really the teeders OF
the tree, will depend its future growth
and vigor. Never pull up tree rude
", or cut off its roots with spade,
except, perhaps, some of its longer
large roots. Leave the tap-root mod
erateIy long. Before lifting a tree,
loosen the soil aronnd it well, and then
take it up carefully. Proper care in
this particular will double the chance
of it's surviving, and render it ten-fold
more valuable afterward.
While out of the ground, the roots
should on no account be exposed to the
sun or dry winds. If not set out i'm
mediately, let them be covered and
kept damp-not qret. Too much wet,
warm packing is almost as dangerous
as dryness.
,,.;r Dig wide, deep holes, to be filed
with good surface soil. Here lies one
Of the great secrets of successful fruit
growing. No matter how poor the
original soil, it is always comparative
ly easy to dig out large hole, say
two and one-half feet deep, and five tc
eight feet in diameter, and fill it il
with good soil for the future bed of tn,
tree. The air from which they derive
much nourishment is just as good owe
a barren, sandy field as over fertile
one, and we can always get good sol
enough for the tree to grow in, even
it has to be carted mile.
The Soil.-lf the ground designed
for fruit or shade trees has goo
surface soil, dig holes as follows =
Throw out few inches of the best sol
upon the surface, leaving it near by
All below this should be spread at /:
distance. Then fill in the bottom will
the soil near by, and upon this set thu
trees. Complete the filing with best
top soil gathered some distance around
each hole. Unless the ground is al
ready quite rich, it is we'll to mix with
the filing good supply Of rotten ma
nure, muck, or decayed leaves. We
know of nothing better to put in the
soil around the roots of all fruit trees
than ground bones. They need not be
finely ground. The finest portions will
furnish immediate pabulum or food for
the roots, while the coarser portions
will decay gradually, and yield an an
nual supply of nutriment through a
long series of years. Remember, that
after tree has been set out, and its
roots have commenced to grow, YOU
cannot readily replace poor soil will
a better one, nor can you mix with i
a supply of fertilizers. The after i'm
proving will necessarily be by means
of liquid manures Therefore prepar
permanently rich soil at first.
Setting out Trees.-Here, also, a III
tle-ves, a good deal-of care vii
pay. Having taken up the the tree
as directed above, fill up the severa
holes, so that when they have settled
each tree will stand about as deep a
when it grew originally in the nursery
Then set in the trees, leaving the root
free, and extended in their natural pc
sition. Do not shovel in the soil upol
them in masses, but sprinkle it il
among and around the roots Earring
the tree with the hand occasionally,
and press it down tightly. This done
fill up the rest of the hole with good
soil, as directed above.
The ground should be left little ell
evated around the trees, to allow fol
settling. 1t is well to add even more
than this to support the tree during
the winter, and dig away the surplus
in the spring.
If the ground is dry at the time Of
setting, or if dry weather succeeds, an
occasional watering should be given
just enough to keep the ground damp
but not enough to bake it, or make il
vuot and cold The object ShOuld bo
to get the fibres started before all
growth is cut off by frost If much
water remains about the roots during
winter, there will be more expansion
and contraction by frost, and the ten
der roots will be more torn and broken
thereby. We would recommend thor.
ough understanding for all ground on
which fruit trees are to grow. The
ground may, however, be drained sub
sequently by running drains between
the rows of trees