The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-05-03
Verso by Miss stobbins, the sculptre,s.
agricultural.
From the New England Farmer
PLANTING TREES.

Persons intending to plant trees should be-
Gin to think of the matter now, 30 as to be
ready to enter upon the work rs soon Us the
opening of the ground will permit. III the
selection Of the land, the selection Of trees,
the varieties to be used, and the distances
apart which they are to be set, are to be left
until May, when the lark is whistling on the
top of the maple, the work will probably be
done in such u hurried manner as to cause
many mistakes. All these preliminariesm may
be arranged by the sitting room or kitchen
fire, and may be aided by suggestions OF the
women, or by those of the sons who arc to
assist in the labor. This is the engineering
or planning part OF farming, and never
should bc left to be decided upon when the
time has come to do the work, no moro than
the carpenter should decide what kind OF a
barn he is to build for you. when he has got
his force together to raise il F!
Having decided what distances shall be
preserved, they may be set of, and then the
holes should be dug as early as possible. II
would have been better had the earth been
thrown out last fall. The holes should be
large, never less than four feet in diameter,
by eighteen to twcnty-four inches deep, and
if six feet in diameter, they are all the bet.
ter. The earth thrown out should be turned
over two or three times, so that it may
all receive portions Of the rain that falls,
and the energizing influences contained in
the atmosphere. Under this process, that
which was taken from the bottom Of the
hole will greatly improve. 1t may answer
to dig holes only foot deep and spade the
bottom six or twelve inches but this pro-
cess is not so thorough us that Of throwing
the earth entirely out.
Before setting the tree, the black top soil
should be thrown into the bottom Of the hole
with sufficient quantity of other black soil
near. to fill the hole up within two or three
inches of the surface. II it can be afforded,
little well rotted compost may be mingled
in with decided advantage. In this manner
n complete rot bed is formed for the new
conner; one favorable to excite numerous e.
brous roots, because il is rich, light, and ca
pable of attracting both heat and moisture.
In such position the tree will soon start in
to active and vigorous growth, and will be
likely to continue this habit for several years,
as the roots will not besoon checked by com.
ing in contact with hard and cold soil.
Great care must be observed not to set the
tree too low in the soil. A good rule is tc
leave the crown Of the root just on leyel
with the surface. while all the others an
well below, cut OF the upper ones, as they
will be likely to throw up suckers continu
ally.
Trees should be selected that have formet
IN the nursery, as those that have not beer
are materially checked in growth by frequent
alterations in their amount Of top. Wher
trees in the nursery are formed, those may b.
selected that are much alike in size and fg
urc, and the planter may have before him al
orchard not only Of good fruit-producinl
trees, but those doing him credit in theil
similarity to each other, and in their sym
metry Of form. Fifty trees such as we hay'
described, and set as suggested above, will b
more productive than one hundred OF an in
different description and set in careless
manner.