Nebraska advertiser., 1869-11-11
R-Au Communication Intended for this Depart
ment should be Addressedt TO the Editor.
Planting Trees.

planting. To give a detailed article
touching All the points on this partie-
ular subject, would require this whole
page Of our paper.
AS to the proper time for planting,
Fall or Spring, there is difference Of
opinion. We would plant in the fall,
and for the following reasons. 1t is a
mistaken idea that a tree is entirely
dormant during the winter months.
It performs, during that time, some Of
its most important functions. To use
a simple expression, it gets ready for
spring work. In cases of transplant
ing, the pruned, OF cut roots, callous,
(which they must do before they begin
to grow,) end in most instances send
out the small roOtlets, or feeders, and
begin, or are ready TO take up the
nourishing properties of the soil.
True, all this takes place in cases of
spring planting. In fall planting,
however, we have all this, the start of
spring planting, and actually gain, at
least three months ia growth in one
season.
Again, the ground is in better con-
ditiOn IN fall, and as a rule we have
more time to give to planting, and
consequently il is better done. 1t is
urged as an objection to fall planting,
that the ground does not become suf-
fciently packed down. before freez-
ing Weather, and as a result the roots
are liable to suffer. When plantingis
done In tie fall, the ground should be
'fheaped up" around the tree from
four to six inches higher than is de-
signed should remain, and raked
away again to the depth it is to remain
lin the springer what is equally rs
good, heavily mulched with straw, or
litter of some kind. This extra work
or al is worth more to the tree than
it costs.
Perhaps the next consideration
would be the location ON which to
plant-north, south, east or western
slope. If we could have choice we
would not prefer a slope at all, but
would select the highest, dryest piece
of ground we could get. If compelled
to select a slope, it would be northern,
western, eastern or southern, in the
order named. The soil should be Welt
prepared before :planting well and
deeply stirred. For planting small
lots we recommend regular trenching.
On slopes, or hill sides, all blowing
should be done crosswise with the hill
slope, to prevent washing. The
holes for planting should be dug out
at least twenty inches deep, and wide
enough to give every root its natural
position. Plant about two inches
deeper than the tree before grew.
Before planting the tree should be
iWdicfoUSLy pruned. To tell another
how this should be done, is impos-
sible. The condition of the tree, its
necessities and the judgement of the
primer, alone determine this operation
If the tree has been well taken up,
which, by-the-way, is a very import
mt point and well preserved, this
ask will be less difficult. If, on the
contrary, the tree has been badly
aiken up-roots ruthlessly mutulated
and roots exposed to sun and air
Until badly withered-there is an ugly
md difficult job on hand. The essen
ial points to be understood are, first, I
hat the tree has been removed from +.
he ground, and isolated from all that
rave it life; second, that it must again
be committed to the soil, and all aid
possible given it to commence opera
ions again. Both roots and top should
De pruned with a sharp, clean cutting
blade. The more rOOts-especially
he smaller fbrous ones-the better.
No bruised or lacerated roots should
be permitted to remain. The cutting
should be smooth and fresh at plant
and the slope or curf, If any,
from the lower side Of the roots. The
TOP should then be pruned for two
purposes, particularly to give pre-
Do~nderance to the roots and future
shhpe to the tree. In the spring,
when growing commences, and pro-
crosses during the season, the roots
and leaves are mutual assistants and
co-laborers. The roots extract nour-
ishment from the soil, and the leaves
acting as the lungs do the breathing.
The roots commence labor and the
leaves soon follow. The object in
pruning should be to so balance and
regulate this mutual labor between
roots and leaves, as to facilitate their
operations. The roots should have a
preponderance over the top. This is
an extensive, and to us the most in [
teresting feature, or Characteristic in
plant growing. But wehave nottime
space to go farther into details.
After the hole is dug and ready to
receive the tree, let the earth be well
loosed and fresh in the bottom; throw
n a shovel fuIlo of soil set in the tree;
being careful to see that every root
assumes, as near as may be, its origin
al and natural position. Throw in
loose soil until the roots are well COW
cred; then throw in enough water to
make q thin mortar Of all the soil in
the hole; now take hold of the body
of the tree and gently churn it up and
down until this mortar or mud settles
well around every root and fiber;
then I'LL up the hole and tramp down
the earth wei about the tree. As be-
fore said, if planting is done in the
fall, heap up the dirt about the tree,
OF mulch it deeply. If in the spring,
1oo.o AL1 - ohOrrf kLn 49, gf4.