The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1882-02-09
TIME TO PLANT - SELECTION OF
TREES, ETC,

Between fall and spring planting the
difference Is next to nothing, provided
other things are equal failures which
have been charged to the one or to the
other have i'm nearly every instance
been due to something else-careless-
ness i'm planting, the destruction of the
roots in digging up, or badly grown
tree. In the fall, the weather Is gen-
orally favorable, and the press of other
work il not so great as in spring. and
the rains and melting SHOWS of winter
settle the earth among the roots !; so
that the tree is i'm the best condition to
begin growth I'm spring. But fall
planting is not 10 be recommended in
severe climates, nor il IL best for tender
trees of any kind. Nor has fall plant
ing any advantages which would make
up for the loss Of q whole seasons
growth, which would occur IL planting
should be deferred in spring.
In spring little more care Is neces-
sary to get the earth well In among
the roots SO as to leave no vacancies |;
but IL done early, the rain renders
assistance again. Ii planted late, o
bucketful or two of water poured on
when almost dOAe will accomplish
the same end.
More depends on mulching than Oh
the season for planting.
in regard to the selection of trees,
many say, Whats the difference? A
tree is a tree" Soft is, just as horse
is horse. Only the defects Of the
horse can generally be seen and are
pretty well understood, while the de-
fects of the tree are otherwise. One of
the greatest defects Of tree can not
be ascertained until number of years
after its purchase; when, by coming
into bearing, the planter finds his
choice fruit il comparatively worth
less variety. When this extends to Q
whole orchard, rs has been the case
time and time again, the loss Is very
serious, indeed. The buyer of trees Il
SO entirely i'm the hands Of the seller
that the purchase of Russian" apples
and other trash from strangers Is one
of the things beyond comprehension.
In scarcely any other business should
the buyer 30 intelligently assure him.
self of strict honesty and capability on
the part of the seller.
One of the defects Of young tree
q tall smooth stem-is often considered
an excellence; whereas il il usually
the result of want Of proper space
crowding. Plenty Of room produces
stocky trees with many side shoots.
The side shoots produce corresponding
lateral roots, and these lateral roots
are the life Of the tree. The intelligent
purchaser will look not 30 much ut the
stem, but a great deal at the roots.
With plenty of good roots the tree has
every chance for life in removal and
when the roots are right, the tops can
soon he put in the same condition.
The kind Of soil on which young
trees are grown is very important. The
low. flat lands SO often chosen for nur.
sery purposes produce very nice look
ing. but not very healthy trees, rs may
readily be seen when . winter of such
extreme cold as that Of 1SS0-Sl occurs.
In size the tree should not be too
large, else the check Of removal will
he too great; nor should II be too small,
i'm which case IL would still need nur-
sery treatment.
A poor tree IL . most worthless piece
we'll grown tree, OF fair size, IL cheap
at q good round price. The reason II
plain. The first cost Of the tree Ii .
light matter compared with the added
cost Of planting, and care. and the
time which must pas until bearing.
The case IL one In which the planter
cannot afford tn run risks, and yet
many persons think they practice
economy by saving few cents ON the
first cost Of tree
Three things, then. must receive
the earnest ottention Of the careful
planter: Flnt-Who ralDed Tie teeef
h he Trustworthy and eo0pstentf