The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-09-07
The Time for Tree Planting.

The Time for Tree Planting.
IL reading the excellent work of Mr..
Chas. Downing on fruits, We notice that
he puts great faith in the opinion of Lind
ley, that the fall is the best i-ne to plant
trees. 1t does not appear that Lindley
spoke from any experience in the matter,
but simply from what he conceived to be
physiological reasons. Here we see, he
remarks, that the trees roots grow all
winter Hence transplanted fall tree
will have restored its injured roots. and
will be in better condition in spring than
if it had to make ne roots and new leaves
all at the same time. This certainly seems
very reasonable. and if there were no
c0unteracting influences all would be well.
But it does not appear, from a study of
Lindley's writing, that he fully appreci
ated how much evaporation of moisture
from the stems of trees there is in the win
ter season. Indeed, how should he, for in
the moist English atmosphere there is not
much. Bat from our tandpOint-where
the evaporation Is enormous-Lindleyh had
not the opportunity to see what we know.
We have found that not only do our trees
do what Lindley says English trees do,
grow their roots all winter, except when
absolutely encased in frost, but even when
the soil is hard frozen. Thawing their
way by the air of their internal heat, they
go through the most solidly frozen block,
drawing in supply of moisture for the
rapid civilizations from the leafless bark,
continually going on. If this power of
absorbing moisture in the dead Of winter
Were to cease, some of our hardest trees
would die in a few days, under our cold
MI, bar II Is, ~ 81,
inteTteres with the success OF our fall
planting. Moisture is, in small degree,
absorbed by old roots, but the major part
is taken up by the young growing rootlets.
chiefly from the ends, VIII CHI are spongiest
and sOftest. Ii there has not been time
for the production of an abundance of
these, it is hard work for the tree to get
through the winter alive.
Now if We bear in mind these two great
principles, We shall not go far wrong as to
the proper time to plant. We see that we
have to get new rootiets, and We have to
guard against excessive evaporation until
we DO. II we can secure enough rootlcts
to meet all tie plants wants through the
winter. then, assuredly, the fall is the best
time to plant trees.
Often We can secure these conditions
and often not. 1t is the object of this
article to teach our readers who have not
thought OF it, how TO use wise discretion
il the matter.
One OF the best ways is to plant Gerry
early. Do not wait for the fall of the
Leaf; but commence as soon as the first
heavy rains have thoroughly loosened the
ground. If the leaves have not all fallen,
strip them off. 1t is no more of an injury
for man to do this in the day, when a frost
may aud often does do it in the same
night. If there be much soft and imma-
ture wood, cut this back-evaporation is
much more easy through this part than
the harder and more mature.
Another thing in favor of fall planting
will be the selection Of warm ground
This will favor the production of rootlets
In cool damp soil, the roots already on
the tree viii rather die, thai new ones
produce themselves. This is Darticul lrly
the case with some trees which do not
make young roots freely in the fall. The
tulip tree, oaks, and the peach are familiar
instances OF this class. And again, he who
would have the very best success with tall
planting, guards as much as possible
against hot bursts of sun, cold wintrv
winds; and thus he whose place is the
best protected in this respect, will have
the best OF 1t over him who has not
Some of our reiders, we suspect, will
wonder why we include the sun in our list
of winter enemi1s 10 the tall planted tree
But we see how it is after a winters ex-
perience. The southern side of the fall
planted tree is often scorched on that side.
This is simply because the sun draws out
the moisture there faster than the injured
roots can supply it.
In favor OF tall planting there is yet one
- i
Inis is in reference to the condition Of the
earth 1t is often said that wet day is
good for planting trees, but this is a mis-
take. The pasty earth does not fit closely
to the roots; and the roots cannot well
take up moisture, unless they are in close
contact with the earth. Hence a half dry
soil. that will powder finely when crushed,
is to be preferred. Then every little root
finds the pOwdCring soil closing in about
1t; and it is almost as if the root had
pushed itself through in the ordinary way
1t Is good thing in transplanting to have
one man pounding with hammer, as fast
as the earth is being put in. In the spring,
what with rain and frost, the soil is not as
apt to be triable, as gardeners say, as it is
IN the fall of the year.
We think, with these facts before them,
our readers can judge for themselves how
far they can command the essentials to
success in fall planting. 1t will be seen
that an absolute rule as given by Lindley
won't do; but yet there are hundreds OF
cases where it can and will be best to
plant in fall. We all have enough to do
in spring, and all we can get done in adj
vance in fall, is great gain, both in time
and eXpense.-GI dener's Monthly.
A PELICAN, shot on the Carson River, in
California, few days since measured
eight feet and eight inches from tip to tip
of his extended wings