The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-10-27
AGRIC ULTURIST.

"uJ W receive the trees. In dlg-
glng the holes, the stakes should not
De removed, they should simply be
driven down and kept straight, thus
serving to line the trees by when
they are long set. Our next care is
TO procure good thrifty trees. Some
prefer the sweet tree, aud some the
sour; There is really but very lit
lle difference providing you calculate
TO bud any way, and / think that the
better way, but there is a vast differ
ence as to the kind OF trees. For in
stance, look at this thick clump of
trees, they have beautiful tops, al
though the leaves are little light
perhaps, let us take one OF them up,
see, 1t has one long smooth tapering
root, there is hardly single fiber
about 1t, nothing but this small white
root, the tree is worthless, it would
not pay to set it, if it was delivered
at your door free of charge. But
see here are Others. they stand in
rows three feet or more apart and
are well apart in the row, see how
dark the foliage is upon them, and
see what a thrifty wholesome look
the bark has, let us take one of those
up also; here is spade we will cut
a circle round about eighteen inches
distant from the trunk, sending the
spade well down. We will now re-
move few spadefulls from one side,
and strike the tap.root fifteen TO
eighteen inches below the surface
and cut it off clean, now take out
the tree, see if it lifts the whole of
this large bail of earth with it, we
give it a shake when 10 we find it
one compact mass OF fibrous roots,
this will do. Now as,tos size; the
very best trees for the new beginner,
is trees about SIX years old, such
trees should average one and one.
half inches in diameter. They are
somewhat expensive, but they are in
tniteIy cheaper than small three or
four year olds, don't try TO shape the
tops, cut them right off, if you have
to carry them any distance, wrap
them carefully in wet moss, and pro-
tect them from the sun and wind,
have your holes ready, and your
ground in good shape, and set them
as soon as possible. Proceed to set
as follows. Dig out shallow hole
in the bed already made for the tree,
making a deep depression in the
-center-tos ser she-tree
level with thEhatural level OF the
natural level of the surface, it is sup
posed that the land has lain long
enough since grubbing and drag
glng, the last time to have settled
this will, take ten days perhaps-fill
III the earth you have just removed
round the roots, taking care to
spread the roofs evenly aud to get
as much earth between them as pos
sible. After filling between them il
this way with the hands until all the
roots are placed and covered in, yor
can take the hoe, and make a saucer
round the tree, then into this saucer
pour two buckettuls, at.least of wa
Yer, while this water is running il
agltate the earth IN the saucer above
the roots with one hand, and will
the other, give the tree a very Sigh
vibratory motion, you will very
plainly feel the tree get firmer as The
water runs down, carrying the loose
SAND into every creyice among the
roots, if the tree is not perfectly firm
after two buckets of water, give
more. the water is applied chiefly
tor its mechanical action in packing
the tree in. The motion given thu
tree should be very slight as the
roots should not be disturbed attel
the tree has become firm, and thu
water has all run down, take the hoe
and pull up all the subsoil, thrown
out OF the tree holes, making fiat
saucer-shaped heap of it round thu
tree in this way we put weight upor
the roots, giving the tree stability
and we stop the evaporation, OF the
water that we have just applied
cover the top of this "earth mulch,
with good coat of pine straw, and
keep your water bucket away from
them, If they die it will not be fol
lack OF water. Should however, one
OF our long drouths set in, after two
weeks or so, you can tell if they are
suffering, if so then water them, Civ
ing two or three buckets to each
tree.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE