The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-01-24

exception to this rule should be
stated. Where trees are to be set
under iorest protection so that they
will escape any damage from frost
the late fall is the best time. as trees
set at that time are well established
and ready to start by the spring.
In taking up the trees great care
should be taken to prevent breaking
or bruising the roots. AS manv roots
as possible should be taken up. If
the distance from the nursery to the
site Of the grove be short, and the
nursery rows have been well MANFRED
with muck, and the ground is wet at
the time of lifti lg the trees from the
nursery, much of the soil can be
taken along with the roots. Imme.
diately on lifting the roots from the
ground they should be trimmed with
sharp knife wherever they are found
to have been bruised or broken.
The lower part OF the tap root also
should be cut off to prevent its doub.
ling up on being reset. Twelve or
eighteen inches is sufficiently long for
the tap.root. Put the tree under
shade, and cover the roots with wet
moss as soon as possible. Do not
allow the tibrous roots to dry as they
are very delicate and soon perish.
Should they die before setting, cut
them off, for if left on after they
have died they will only impede the
starting OF new rootlets. Keep them
protected up to the moment of SET
ting, taking but one tree at time
from its covering of moss. To in
sure still further against damage to
the tender roots, have on hand half
BARREL of muck made into a thin
paste, and as fast as the trees are
lifted and the roots trimmed, plunge
the roots into this paste, take them
out, aud wrap in MOSS.
The holes for the trees should be
freshly dug. The work of setting is
easily and rapidly done by three
hands working together-one to dig
the holes, one TO prune and get the
tree, and third to fill in. The holes
should be Ding in the shape of an in>
verted saucer or truncated cone with
about two inches OF the top cut off.
Proceed thus: Around the stake
which. marks the place for the taps
root, with a shovel or hoe take away
the soil. Letting. The tool strike the
top Of the soil at the stake, and cons
tinue to dig deeper into the soilAsntIl
q distance Of eighteen inches from
the stake it has penetrated six inches
below the surface. Proceed thus
around the stake until ii is completed.
This gives the greatest depth of the
hole on the outer edge or permeter
of the circle Now take up the
stake, end cut two inches OF the top
off the cone. Whsre the stake stood
push down the spade by working 1t
back and forth until it has penetrated
the ground about eighteen inches or
the full length of the tap root OF the
tree to be set. Now insert the taps
root in this hole made by the spade.
Be careful not to set the tree deeper
tran it grew in the nursery, With
the hand PACK the soil firmly around
the tap-root. Next spread me tate-
raj roofs over the. cone, taking care
to distribute ithem evenly over The
cone. Throw on two inches or dirt
and press it firmly with the feet.
Finish by throwing in soil and level
ing the ground, leaving the last iav-
er OF soil untrod.
"Before the tree is lett it should be
trimmed with shears in proportion TO
the trimming done to the roots.
"lf planting is done in summer or
in hot weather, and the ground is
not protected by forest trees, it is
better to mulch
iii Trees are older than tnree years
and wild grown, it may be necessary
to dig the holes deeper than direct.
ed above, but the point of this eau
tion is against deep setting. The
writer is satisfied that more trees
have been diseased and retarded in
their growth, and frequently killed
by deep setting than by any other
cause.