The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-12-15
PACKING.
SETTING OUT TREES.

The following practical directions for trans
planting fruit trees are furnished by u. Barry,
of the Mount Hope Nurseries, to the Rochester
Democrat:
The Soil for Fruit Tieas-The average soil To
be found in the garden of any part of our city is
good enough in its natural state. All it needs is
a good deep blowing or spading, 10 fit it for the
trees. 1t must he free from stagnaut water. No
one would think of permitting the garden which
surrounds his dwelling to remain a swamp. For
healtlis sake the drainage must he perfect. The
health of fruit trees requires this too.
HOU to PlaHt.-lnexperienced persons are very
apt to make a great fuss over the planting of Il
tree, or they will run to the other extreme and
cram it into the ground as they would bean
pole. Very common errors planting too
deeply and applying manure around the roots.
No manure is needed at time of planting-wait
till the tree gets.t growing, and then apply the
manure, if needed, on the surface of the ground
over the roots.
Dig hole large enough and deep enough to
receive the roots, spread ont in their natural
way, and so that the tree will stand no deeper
in the ground than it did in the nursery; then
fill in good surface earth among the roots care
fully, filling every space. When the spaces are
all filled and the roots covered, then begin to
pack the earth as il goes in, and keep packing
firmly till the work is complete. To the errors
have already mentioned-,leep planting and
manure at the rOOts-I will add the Other-loosc
planting which is very general and very fatal
Don't be afraid of making the earth too firm
about the roots.
The Use Of Hdter in PldRting.-It is very COM
mon to pour water around the roots of tree at
planting, without stopping to inquire why. Un-
less the soil Is extremely dry in the spring, and
the tree has already commenced TO grow, wafer
does more harm than good. And right here it
may as well be said, if dry weather ensucs after
planting as to affect the tree, do not sprinkle
every day, but remove two inches of the surface
over the roots, and pour water enough to 90
clear down to the lowest roots-Teplaee the earth
and mulch with little hay, OF grass. or straw,
or tan bark, or something to prevent rapid evap-
Grafton. Seldom will any more water be needed.
What Kind Of Trees 10 PIdHt.-Most people want
large trees, must have large trees; when the
planting humor comes, patience seems TO he lost
must have trees that will bear right away.
Looking ut trees Just of the proper size, they eN
claim "WhO conld wait for such whip 10 beaTf
ave may all be in graves before that time
True enough, there may he exceptional cases
when few large trees, removed and planted
with extraordinary care. may be a success, but
in n general way the trees that plant most sue
cessfully and thrive best after planting, and Ill
timately make the most healthy, productive and
long-liyed trees, are those transplInted young
say apple three or four years, pear and plum
two to four years, cherries two years, peaches
one year. The age means the growth of the bud
or graft and has no reference to the age of the
stock grated or budled upon. The older the
tree the greater the check in tranSplanting. and
this is why the yorng tree will ovcrtake and
pass the oluer ana larger Tree IN the race OF
growth.
But whatever may he the age, size, or charac-
ter of your tree, look well TO its roots Have
them ALL or many Of them may I've possible,
preserved from mntlation or injury of any kind;
protect them from the air, 50 that they will not
be dried TO death before You get them in the
ground. | see people every year handing trees
if they were dry brush, and it should be an
indietable offence.
That IbOHt Pruning at the Time Of Transplant
iHg'-This is a mooted question, but long ex-
pcrience shows that Whatever theory may teach,
il is safe to shorten back the branches at the
time of planting; this by reducing the number
Of leaf-buds, and consequently leaves, reduce
their evaporating power while the tree is form
ing new roots and getting usud TO its new home.
A good rule, as far make a rule, is
to cut back the young shoots two or twrcc buds
at the base, and where shoots too close cut
on some of them altogether.
Hoo far apart should Trees be PldHisd,-The av-
erage distance may be given as follows: STAN
dard trees-Apples 30 feet, pears and cherries 20
feet, the smaller class of cherries will do very
well at 10 to Is feet; plums and peaches, apricots
and nectarines, 10 to II feet, ounces 10 to IL
feet. Dwarf trecs-Apples on paradise stock, 6
feet apart, and nothing in the whole range of
fruit culture is more interesting than these
miniature apple trees, three or four feet in height
and the same in diameter, whether in blossom or
fruit. Pears, cherries, plrnls, 10 or II feet.
Currants, gooseberries and raspberries, three to
four feet. These distances can of course be var
led to suit circumstances.