Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-12-14
HOW TO PLANT A TREE.

We republish by request, the following
editorial, from our number for December,
1865:
The best time for planting all hardy
trees in mild climates, is after the first
killing frosts-November and December
being ths months in which the operation
is most successfully performed. Trans
planted at this time, they throw out small
+ fibres from the roots during the winter, and
start with the opening season into healthy
growth. Still, they can safely be set out
at any period from the first heavy frost un-
til the buds swell, but if an early period
within these limits be selected for planting,
the more vigorous will be the growth of
the tree--unless it be like the fig, liable to
be injured by the severity Of the winter, or
as some evergreens, to be blown about and
loosened at the roots by tho winter gales.
If planting cannot be done before Christ
mas all trees do better late in February,
than if planted in the severe cold of mid
winter.
When you have the ground properly
prepared, and the holes dug, take up the
tree with care, not cutting in the roots with
the spade too near the trunk. To do this,
dig around the tree, at n distance more or
less, according TO its size, a semi-circular
trench, the proper depth being little be.
low the horizontal roots-cutting them off
at the e&tremities merely, in forming this
trench, instead Of mutilating large roots.
When this trench is formed, reach under
with the spade, and cut off the tap root if
there is one; then bend tho tree over to-
wards tho trench, and finish the circle by
cutting around the tree vertically with the
spade. The t,ee can then be lifted, and if
near the place, can he taken with the ball
OF ea,th attached to the roots, and set in
its new location, or if it is to bic carried
any distance, when the earth is shaken out,
the mass Of fine unbroken roots will en-
sure its safety in lts new position. A tree
can be taken up in this careful manner az
quickly as in the ordinary random hap haz
ard way.
When taken up, carefully protect the
roots Of the tree from the frost, sun and
dying winds. Thousands of trees are thus
nearly or quite ruined, or at least years
growth thus lost. The roots, after taking
up, should be kept covered with loose
earth, near where they are TO be set out,
taking out n handful OF trees at a time, a.
wanted in planting.
Prepare the ground for your trees by
deep and thorough tillage, and few days
in advance of planting, make holes fully
two feet square, and one and half or two
feet deep, and in making them; throw the
good top soil out on one side, and the poor
on the other. Loosen up the bottom with
grubbing hoe ; throw in about two inch.
es of good soil, to Tighten what is to be
thrown in, as is clay comes directly upon
clay, it will harden and become impervious
to water. Now break in roughly all the
sides of your hole, to fill up the bottom
Herewith as much as practicable, adding
the good soil laid one side, and if necessary
other good earth sufficient to fill the hole
to the proper depth for receiving tho tree.
Place the tree now in position, and let its
general inclination be in the slightest de-
gree possible to the Southwest, for all trees
have tendency, if not checked, to recsde
from that point, and incline to the north
east, forming most Of their wood in that
direction Ia tendency that must be guarded
against, both in planting and pruning,
while growth towards the southwest side
of the tree is to be encouraged, in order
that tho tree may preserve its balance and
beauty.
Trees must not be planted too Deep
which is the great error with nearly all
planters. After a hole is entirely filled with
loose earth, by taking out one good spade
full you will have room enough for the
roots Of a common nursery tree. Sight
your tree when in position, and see tia: it
is in line, and that the rows are perfectly
straight, and then plant, covering the roots
with good f'iable soil, and shaking the
tree quite lightly and repeatedly, until 1t
feels firm, by the earth settling among its
roots; then press the earth lightly with
your foot, and scatter the poor, soil throw
on. from the bottom of the hole upon the
| field, and the tree is ready for Che rain. In
this climate, a little extra earth b. .throwh
upon the roots the frs. winter, to protect
them, which the summer rsius will wash
away.
In spring tfansplanting, the soil must be
beaten about the roots much more firmly
than In fail. nd at that fIn,a the svinsar rains