The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-04-26
April work in Orchard and Nursery.

Trees in transportation are liable to injury
in spite of tho skiful packing of the nur-
seryman. If detained on the road they may
dry out, and when opened present dead
and shrivelled appearance. No matter how
unpromising they look, they can probably
be restored. First look to the labels, and
see that they are all well fastened then
open a trench in a dry sandy place, and
bury the trees root and branch, taking care
that the moist earth comes well in contact
with the branches and twigs to the very top.
A week or less of this treatment, unless the
trees were absolutely dead, will completely
restore them. Be very careful, in taking
them out, not to lose labels or break the
twigs. Another danger is overheating, caus-
ing the buds to start into growth. The
uppermost buds may have weak white shoots
some inches long, the lower ones shorter
shoots, while further down on the branches
the buds will still be dormant. In this
sound bud. The needed severe cutting may
not leave much of the tree, but it is the only
remedy. The novice at planting can
not see why he should not set all that nur-
seryman gives him. So he might, did the
nursery give him all that belongs to him.
Even with the greatest care, some roots must
be cut Off but in hurried work the tree is
deprived of one-third to one-half of its roots.
1t then becomes matter Of necessity to cut
back the top, that there may be Il proper
proportion of root and branch. Do not hur.
ry tree planting. If the ground is not dry
and mellow, let the trees wait. The land
being marked out, and the place for each
tree staked, take sufficient time to plant each
tree properly this mcans spreading the roots;
covering them gradually with top soil, work
ing this well in among the roots, firming
the soil gently with the foot-not tramping
it-then when the filling is completed press
down the soil firmly again. Stakes are not
needed ifa tree is well set, unless it is of
very large size. Many water the roots at
planting, but this is unnecessary except late
in spring when the ground has become some
what dry. Mulching is always needed, to
keep the soil around the roots moist. Straw,
poor hay, stable litter, chips, or whatever
will prevent evaporation. Grating sue
ceeds best with perfectly dormant scions
set upon stocks, tho buds of which have
commenced to swell. The cankcrworm, in
localities where it is troublesome, appear as
soon as the ground thaws. The female, be-
ing wingless, cannot fly, and when she
leaves the ground has to climb up the trunk
to lay h n eggs. All remedies" consist in
presenting some barrier to the ascent of the
female. Contrivances are numerous; the
simplest is band of heavy brown paper
around the trunk, smeared with tar or prin-
ter's ink, and looked to every few days Be.
fore the trees leave out, they should be care
fully inspected for the eggs of the tent cat
erpillar. They are in band about an inch
long near the ends of the small trigs, and
are readily seen against the sky. Cut and
burn. Mounds of earth that were made
around young trees last fall to keep off mice
should be leyelIed.-L American AgricuitUy>
isl.