Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-18
A Plea for Eyergreens.

Utility governs with a high hand in
these matter-of-f fact days, especially with
that large class whom we address
from week 10 week in these columns, the
farmers of the Northwest. Perhaps they
are prone to hold themselves too rigidly
to the principle of utility in all they do
and undertake. There is certain glory
in that, We know; there is great glory in
making country rich, in developing its
entire resources and capabilities that is a
fact There is a glory in having good
houses and good barns, and good horses
and cattle and sheep and pigs good furni-
ture and pictures and musical instru-
ments and, above all, we may glory in a
good education and in the practical ad-
vantages il affords US. But after all this
there comes the glory of making our
homes beautiful places. While we have
rich farms and extensive manufactures,
we want pleasant homes. We may well
heed the earnest injunction Of the patri-
arch: Let us have the field and the cave
which is therein, and all the trees that
are in the field, and that are in
the borders round about; and let them
be made sure for a possession unto us"
Happily our subject unites the two-fold
character of use and beauty, of fitness and
propriety, as well as refinement and taste /;
and while we plead for the planting OF
evergreens as ornaments for the home
steads OF our people, we may also urge
| their uses as shelters against cold winds
| and storms, and as protectors OF the more
tender fruits and shrubbery.
But what are we about, excusing our
selves for urging the use Of eyergreens as
| ornamentsg D, this cannot be necessary.
| Is there net enough OF the love Of home
| in the hearts of the people, not enough OF
taste, of culture and of the spirit Of con-
| sideration akin to that which filled the
| soul of Solomon when he undertook TO
establish on earth a sacred place where
| the Lord might NEE. nth his closer; pee
pie! Who wants his home "bare, naked
| and dreary as Sahara" Il place wherein
only to eat, sleep and crawl when it rains
There are few places in every town,
| handsome naturally, but totally neglected
| by their owners, where a shade tree is not
| to be seen. We cannot believe that such
| persons are wholly insensible to the
charms of fine landscape; that they see
no beauty in the grand trees of our forests.
They are simply all given up 10 making
money We are glad that they are not
| the representative men of the country; on
| the contrary, it is great pleasure to note
| the growing interest all over the North.
| west in planting trees. The Centennial
tree-planting'' has added a new interest,
and aroused goodly number OF the old
dormants whom nothing could bring to
their senses but an earthquake or cen
tennial epoch. Once in a hundred years
they move, but that is better than an
eternity of unbroken slumber. We have
| got the spirit of planting trees awakened
| and now let us go on. We have planted
| thousands of deciduous forest trees, now
| let US put hand TO the eyergreens. What
shall we plant? ....-..
Hemlock, Norway spruce, pine, balsam
| fir and arbor vitae, these are preferable in
the order named for general planting. II
one wishes to give distinct character T.
a place or to add to natural features he
will change this order perhaps.
| Many are deferred from planting ever
greens because they think it is hard to
make them live; but this is a mistaken
notion altogether. They are as easily
transplanted as any forest tree, if properly
handled. If tree is just stuck into tho
ground as you would stick q fence post
into an auger hole, its fate is pretty sure
| A great many trees are planted IN that
way, and a great many hopes are laid low
| in consequence. 1t speaks well tor the
trees that they do give up the ghost ano
leave the realms of such dolts as would
put them into the ground in such an
| ignorant manner. 1t is good principle
to show contempt for such kinds OF
planting.
An evergreen tree must have roots, they
are not worth trying to save II they have
| not good roots; and when ordering from
any nursery this should be impressed on
the mind Of the nurseryman. Then 1t Is
| INDISPENSABLE to success that the roots be
kept moist from the very instant they are
taken out Of the ground till they are
planted. They must not Get dry for q
! moment, nor be exposed to sun and WIND.
| If these rules are attended TO, not one in a
hundred will be lost. A rainy day is the
best time TO move evergreens from the
4 forest: and when taken from nursery
the roots must be instantly immersed in a
puddle of clay and water, which may be
soaked loose when transplanted. "a
After evergreens are planted the ground
must be kept wet and cool by mulching
with chip-dirt, or some such substance
| The best time TO transplant eyergreens
| is last after the buds have begun To swell,
and are ready 10 burst the leaves ana
| until the trees have made an inch or 50
/ of new growth. This period varies from
4 the first of May to the middle, and on
4 into June. Large trees are successfully
| moved in winter with frozen ball .ol
| earth attached We moved one mile
in March last, that is ten feet high
II will surely live. A large hole wa,
dug and it was set in just as 1t stood
before removal A plenty OF mellow SOL
was filled in all around for the young
roots to strike into as soon as they pegin
to grow.
Evergreens always produce q fine effect
planted in groups. The hemlock Is es'
pecially suited 10 this kind OF treat
ment. However, the taste and the situa.
ton of each person will readily direcl
how to plant. While there are rules and
laws which professional gardener would
observe in planting trees anywhere, ye,
the main thing is TO get the trees planted
somehow. They look well anyway ano
| anywhere. Plant to break the cold WINDS
| and plant where the eye can often see
these noble objects, Use common sense
and Judgment and follow our Suggestions
about keeping the roots damp. -Desro''
| Tribune.