The mountain Democrat., 1864-01-09
Rule. for Tree Planting.

The following iBl>G3i1Isss, 1Dles to Tree
Planters are given by John j. Thomas,
and if needed would save thousands OF
trees from destruction, and make many
people richer and happier:
If the roots Of tree are frozen out OF
the ground, and thawed again in contact
with the air, the tree is killed.
If the frozen rotten roots are well bu-
ried, filling all cavities before thawing
away at all the tree is uninjured.
'.1s..-. .-..GsoM never be SSs.:lGE =, ,S.:'1
tect with the roots of tree, in setting it
out, but old finely pulverized earthly
compost answers well.
Trees should always be set about as
deep as they stood before digging up.
A small or moderate sized tree at the
time of transplanting will usually be a
large bearing tree, sooner than larger
tree set out at the same time, and which
is checked necessarily in growth by re-
moval.
Constant, clean and mellow cultivation
is absolutely necessary at all times for
the successful growth of the peach tree,
at any age, it is as necessary for young
plur, tree, but not quite so much for an
old tree; it is nearly as essential for a
young apple tree but much less SO for an
old orchard and still less necessary for u
middle aged cherry tree.
TO guard against mice in winter with
perfect success, make O small, compact,
smooth earth mound, nearly foot high,
around the stem of the young tree.
Warm valleys with rich soil, arc
more liable to cause destruction to trees
or their crops by cold, than moderate hills
Of more exposure, and with less fertile
soiI-the cold air settling at the bottom
of valleys during the sharpest frosts, and
the rich soil making the trees grow too
late in autumn without ripening and
hardening their wood.
The root of tree extends nearly as far
on each side as the height of the tree,
and hence to dig it up by cutting q cir
Gle with spade half foot in diameter,
cuts off more than nine tenthS of the
roots; and to spade little circle about a
Young tree not one-quartcr as far as the
roots extend, and call it cultivation" is
like Falstaf's men claiming spurs and
shirt collar for complete suit.
Watering a tree in dry weather affords
but temporary relief and often does more
harm than good, by crusting the surface.
Keeping the surface constantly mellow is
much more valuable and irnportant--if
this cannot be done, mulch well. If wa
tering is ever done from necessity, remove
the top earth, pour in the water, and then
replace the earth-then mulch, or keep
the surface very mellow.
Shrvclled trees may be made plump
before planting, by covering tops and all
with earth for several days.
Watering trees before they expand
their leaves should not be done by pour
ing water at their roots, but by keeping
the bark of the stem and branches fire.
quenny or constantly moist. Trees in
leaf and in rapid growth, may be watered
at the roots if done in proper manner.
Young trees may be manured to great
advantage by spreading manure over the
roots as far as they extend, or over a cir
Gle whose radius is equal to the height of
the tree, in autumn or winter, and spade
ing this manure in, in spring.
Never set young trees in grass field,
or among wheat, or other sowed grain.
Clover is still worse, as The roots go
deep, anil rob the tree roots. The sur
face should be clean and mellow or if
any crops are suffered, they should be
potatoes, carrots, turnipS, or other low
hoed crops.