The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-12-06
ornamental Tree Planting.
By t. T. LYON, PLYMOUTH, MICH.

BY t. T. LYON, PLYMOUTH, MICH.
Those who contemplate planting of
roadside trees are almost compelled to
select grown specimens, as, otherwise,
they are liable to injury from the cattle
so commonly pastured there, at the
public expense; while others, who have
not this difficulty to contend with,
through an undue anxiety to have
grown up trees, at once, are usually in
duced to make similar selection.
That this course greatly increases
the liability to failure, will readily APP
pear, if we consider that such trees are
usually chosen from the thicket or for
est; and, as they have had no deeply
worked soil, from which to draw their
sustenance, but are usually dependent
on the decay of vegetation upon the
surface, their roots will be found to have
traversed wide extent of soil, and to
be but poorly provided with fibres For
this reason it becomes indispensable that
q greater breadth of root be removed !;
and, also. that the work be so done as
to, as far as possible, prevent injury to
the roots that remain.
To effect this object, resort is some
times had to winter planting. Trees
to be removed at that season should be
at once selected, and a trench dug
about them at suitable distance to
leave the necessary amount of root,
and deep enough to sever all that ex-
tend so far from the trunk. This trench
should be filled with leaves, straw or
other litter, to prevent the freezing of
its bottom. At the same time hole
should be dug for the reception of the
tree, when removed, and little larger
than the breadth of the roots attached
to it. This hole should, also, be filled
with litter sufficient to prevent the freez-
ing of its bottom. The litter, and also
the snow, should be kept removed from
the surface about the tree, to facilitate
the freezing of the earth about the roots.
When the earth is deeply frozen, the
litter may be removed from the trench,
and the tree loosened, removed from
its position, by means of levers, and
transported to the spot selected for
planting. The litter should then be re-
moved from the hole previously pre-
pared; and, after bringing it to prop
er depth, a bed of soft mud should be
made, of rich earth and water, which
will accommodate itself to the earth
about the roots, when the tree is placed
in position. Earth should then be filed
in about it; and, if the tree is large
one, it will be necessary to support it
against the swaying Of the wind, until
new roots are formed, and have taken
a firm hold upon the soil.
We might repeat the stereyotyped
rule, to plant only as deep as the tree
stood before; but we advise planters
to receive it with some grains of allow
anse. If the tree is taken from an ex.
posed position (which should Away,
be the case if possible,) and from &
deep generous soil, into which its root,
have struck freely and deeply, the rule
should apply strictly; but if, on the
other hand, it has come from a sheltered
locality, where the soil was covered
with natural mulch, or from a thin
cold soil, where the roots have beer
kept near the surface, it will, doubtless
be better to plant it an inch or two
bwer than it formerly stood.
In all cases, the top Of the tree should
be cut back to correspond with tn,
shortening of the roots. In doing this
It is safer to cut too much rather thar
too little, and it shonld be done, no
By trimming up" but by "cuttins
back'' the branches.
Trees taken from the forest, or from
thiokets,ss are usually more upright
straight and beautiful, to the uninitiat
ed hence there is strong temptation
to choose them; but experience ha
bong since determined, that trees takeI
from such localities, can only be saved
It saved at all, by resort to thorough
system of sheltering and mulching o
watering such as is usually considere'
necessary only for tender exotics.
Whenever plantations are desired
Of varieties that can be obtained fror
nurseries, the labor and risk will b
greatly abridged by choosing such !; a
they from growing in rich porou
soil, and from frequent transpIantine
have the proportion of fibrous root
greatly Increased.
The question-What shall we plant
must be reserved for future considers
xDn-Mchigap Farmer.