Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-04-23
funars 4fpartnlallt.
From the Farmers Chronicle
Trees and Tree Planting.
By G. S. INNS.

county, the nrSt tnlnS uVno
cut down, grub up, and get rid OF, in
some way, every tree, shrub and bush
near the spot where the settler In
tended 10 build his cabin. The one
prominent idea was, that nothing
must be left within reach of the house
the sun must be let in. OF late
years better system prevails. The
sons are fast correcting the errors oi
the fathers. Who. that is worthy
the name Of . man, does not admire
q nice yard round a house, full OF
shade trees--not set out in regular
rows, but placed round in groups,
just as though they had, like Topsy,
come up themselves? The great ART
in setting out shade trees is TO con-
ceal all art-make them like natures
works. This is the perfection OF art.
Natures works are always beautiful
or sublime. Few, think, Messrs.
Editors, will question the benefit de-
rived from shade trees. They make
our homes beautiful-attractive to
our children. Can you call that being
. man who does nothing for the en-
jeyment or pleasure of those who are
dependent upon him? How pleasant
the thought that you are setting
them an example for after life, and
giving them home in their youth
that they will in future life look back
to with pride and pleasure as well as
preft.
In setting evergreens, be very
careful to know that the roots have
never been dried in the air or sun.
I tried and tried again, for a number
of years, to set evergreens, but al
ways failed, till / became nearly or
quite discouraged. / mentioned my
troubles to my friend, Phillip Fisher,
Jr., who told me he could explain the
cause Of my failure. He said that
the roots of all evergreen trees were
full of terpentine; and this, as every
one knows. evaperates very freely
He told me never to allow the roots
te be exposed to the air for single
moment, and / would find no difficult
ty. He advised taking old rags or
sacks and tying up the roots, with
considerable earth attached. Iobey-
ed his directions, and have never
failed in one single instance. They
not only live, hut grow right along,
almost as good as if they had not
been moved.
= In setting all trees, care should be
taken that the roets never become
dry. This the purchaser should
know. for himself, and not for anoth-
er. would take ne mans word for
it; not that I think all men would
say things they do not believe, but
that all men are liable to be mistaken.
The practice of nurserymen, in dig
ging up and heeling in trees, before
selling, is the cause of nine -tenths of
the failures of trees to grow after
planting, which has now become so
commsn, causing much complaint
Trees well handled and well set, will,
ninety nine out of every hundred,
grow and do well. 1t is natural for
q young tree to grow-unnatural for
it to die. 1t never dies without a
cause, and dry roots is sufficient
cause. l know that tree dealers
would be very much inconvenienced
by being obliged to dig their trees
from the rows where they grew to
accommodate each purchaser; but it
would be greatly to the interest of
the purchaser to compel them to do
so, or look farther for their trees.
The next great cause of failure in
getting trees to live and grow is want
of proper drainage. No fruit tree
will grow in water. In clay land
that is not underdrained, set the tree
high, and plow the land up to them
in the form of ridges. 1t is worse
than useless to dig a deep hole and
fill it mp, even with virgin soil, unless
the land is drained to the bottom of
the hole. The digging destroys the
natural drainage, and the hole will fill
with water, and the tree will die. !
knew an experiment of this kind tried.
My friend, Chris. Shoemaker, Esq,
to set out one hundred apple
trees. He had holes dug that would
held two or three cart loads EACH
These he filed with soil from the |
woods, composted, SO as to make a
rich spot for ninety three of his trees.
Ssme other work pressing, he set the
other seven almost on the top of the
ground, without any preparation
whatever. During the summer his
ninety three well-set trees, all, or
nearly ell, died, while the seven all |
lived and did well.
His hole, he had taken so much |
pains to make and fill, had filed
with water, and there being ne outlet
each tree had little pond of its own
to stand and die in, live it could not. |
The cause, too, of 80 per cent. of the
failures Of dwarf trees, especially of
pears, is want of thorough drainage.
Dwarfs will do well, if well treated
if not, they die or grow prematurely |
old. / can prove this to the satisfac-
ton of any reasonable man, by show
ing him three lots on South High
street. Drainge, manure and good
cultivation will make them a success
every time. In setting trees, be
careful to put them into the ground
but little deeper than they stood in
the Nursery rows. Make the places
large enough, SO the roots can be
spread out naturally, cover with good
mellow earth, keeping it slightly
round the trees. Now procure some
long manure, rotten straw, or partial.
ly rotted leaves, or saw dust, and
mulch every tree, by covering the
ground around it about three or four
inches thick. Ifyou get this done,
and get one good rain on it after
wards, your trees are safe, even in a
very dry summer. Take pains to
procure good trees and set them well.
They viii not only live out sickly
existence, but start off soon and grow