The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-21
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
How to Dig and Plant.

The digging of evergreens is one of the
mechanical arts OF horticulture. A common
hand, knowing nothing of roots, will 60 to
work with his spade, and putting it broad
side toward the tree, within four inches of its
main roots, will then bend back the top, held
in his left hand, so that when he puts his
foot upon the spade to press it into the ground,
it will enter the earth at an angle of forty-fve
degrees, and about four inches in depth, cut
ting off all the side roots and mutilatng the tap
roots at about five inches depth from the sur
face then he catches hold of the tree by the
top shoots, the growth of the past season,
and twists and turns it until there is not a
root left free of cracks. The tree comes out
entirely free of earth, and is thrown back. to
lie in the sun or wind, until the whole row or
lot ordered is dug. Now he who knows how
to dig tree, will set his spade in edgewise to-
wards the tree, knowing that its roots ramify
and extend more towards the open ground
than in the row. He loosens gently the
ground by placing the spade or digging fork
1.-THE latter is the best) so that it will enter on
straight line twelve inches into the ground;
then he lifts gently, throwing the earth away
from the tree or plant. Next he takes hold
of the plant or tree close down to the earth,
and pulls streight upwards, bringing it to tie
surface with mass of earth around the
crown, and each root with only small fibres
broken, The plants are Tor should be), as
fast as raised, gathered and wrapped in a
mat, or put into some barrow with cover,
to protect them from wind and sun.
This answers for small trees or plants, or
trees of two or three feet high. Large trees of
fifteen to thirty feet high, and with the lower
branches spreading six or eight feet, should
first have the lower branches bent upwards
and secured by soft belt to keep them from
injury by the diggers. In the digging OF
these the spade should be set in eighteen in
ches to three feet from the body of the tree,
according to its size, with its edge to the stem
or centre of the tree, and trench dug eigh-
teen inches deep and wide; then a spading
fork should be inserted underneath the outer
roots, the earth removed again and again, un-
til the tree stands mainly upon ball of earth
4 to inches in depth, and on its tap roots.
Now dig away one side until the spade or
knife can be used to cut the tap roots or
lateral sub-roots, smoothly. Next place some
hay, or straw or cloths under one side be-
meath the roots, bend the tree over upon it.
and draw mat from the opposite side under
the tap-roots, &C., so folded that when the
tree is canted back the roots may be gathered
in the mat; tie this mat to the stem, lift and
place the tree on sled or low-wheeled wag-
place for replanting.
The whole art Of planting is to have the
hole or trench dug SO deep that the tap root
will stand on a cronical mound in the centre,
and have the tier of upper roots four inches
below tie surface. Then lay down the lower
tier of roots SO that they lie level upon the
ground beneath; cast fine earth over and
among them, pressing it firmly among the
roots with outspread fingers; do the same with
every tier of roots to the surface, being care
full all the time that the main or tap root is
ho11 dad NJ FL
with your feet. or beat upon it with thespade
or FOUNDER. Any and all of this work causes
the roots to become bent, and Injuries their
healthy adtion.-COuntry Gentleman.