Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-24
Evergreen Trees.

George II. Parks, in the Michigan
Farmer, says he has had over twenty
years, experience in handling evergreen
trees, planting many thousands yearly
for several years. The time to plant
an evergreen tree is usually during
April to the 10Th of May, suspending
the work when the young shoots attain
an inch in length. 1t is an erroneous
idea that some have got into their heads
that evergreen trees may be planted at
any time during the summer months, if
properly cared for. If planted when
the new growth is greater than herein
specified, it will droop and die, while
she balance of the tree may live to pos
;ibly make new buds to put on another
seasons growth, but the chances are
hat it will die. Where evergreen trees
are handled properly they may be
planted with as little difficulty as any
other tree. The business of the
nurseryman is to transplant them often
when small; the cutting around consoli-
iates the roots into a fine mass around
the stem, making them similar to
potted plant. If properly lifted with
out strAining or bruising the body, if
the roots are kept from drying out be-
very sure to live, if well planted. They
may be planted out in autumn If
the ground is wet. The process OF
planting is the same as planting any
other tree. They require good soil to
start them with, but many grow on very
poor soil when once established. 1t IL
desirable to have trees look healthy and
dark green. When grown on poor, light
soils the spruce is apt to look yellow and
show lack of vitality. Trees planted
in grass plats are often neglected, and
they. too, take on this puny, yellow, di-
lapidated appearance, and fail to fill the
bill as an ornamental tree; the owner
loses the tree without knowing it died
from negligence. A farmer would hard
ly think of buying thoroughbred calf,
pay fancy price for it, take it home,
put it in a tight pen and never feed il
or give it water, depending on the airs
and dews of heaven to carry il TO ma
turity. 1t is quite as necessary that
young trees have care and attention at
the proper time. The process of hand
ling and planting trees should be thor
ough; all should be done well and at the
proper time if success is expected to
follow our labors.
any time without apparent injury to the
trees; but trimming should be done for
purpose. If we want to produce a
thick growth and symmetrical form we
should cut heavy and often, commenc-
ing in the spring. If trees arc wanted
to grow in their natural spready wav
they need but little cutting more than
to balance them over their stems.
Trees can be kept under the control of
the owner to meet the requisites of the
ground they occupy, providing the
shears or knife are applied while vet
small. All the spruces, jumpers, and I
will say pines, may be kept in small
compass for years if properly trimmed;
commencing when the trees are from
three to six feet high, they can be kept
not to exceed ten feet If desired. The
pines require different treatment from
all others. As the pines put in their
growth in sections, the more rapid the
growth the wider the sections are
thrown apart. In order to bring the
J sections closer together we would cut
back the fresh growth one-half or two
thirds from where it started in the
spring, going over the whole tree. The
proper time TO cut is when the terminal
buds are formed, but yet so soft that
they may be taken off with the thumb
and finger. This process of trimming
should be commenced when the trees
are small, say from four to six feet
high. but larger trees may be wonder
fully improved and stocked up by the
process. The effect of this process is to
increase the buds one hundred per cent.
each year; these will come forward the
second year and fill up all the vacant
sections on the stems, and by continu-
ance of the process pine may be made
IS thick and nearly as fine as spruce.
ANY form may be maintained that is
desired by giving it skillful shaping.