The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-07-06
TRANSFORMING TREES.
Rules to Be Observed In Setting Out Trees
... I'm spring and Fall.

sery or forest 10 the orchard. lawn or
site of the grove or shelter belt il
should be kept constantly in mind that
trees are living things, that they are
very liable to injuries of various kinds.
and that their roots are mouths. Ii is
impossible to dig up a tree from the
ground where it sprang from seed
without cult. Ig off or bruiSing some of
the roots. Still. wounds will hea. on
the roots of a tree as well as on the
trunk and branches. Not unfrequently
tree is benefited by having some of
its roots removed or shortened. The
root of q tree that has received an
| injury should receive the same kind of
/ treatment that Is given to an injured
branch. 1t should be entirely removed
with a sharp knife or saw, or cut off
above the point of injury with some in
strument that will leave the surface
smooth. If this is done fibrouS roots
will generally start out from the end
and De of great service in supporting
| the tree. If roots are very long it is
generally better TO cut them off in the
/ =
at their full length or TO pull them out
Of the soil. LII they are drawn through
ground that has not been looSened they
will be likely to have their bark re-
moved from them or to become split
and stripped of lateral roots. If they
are injured in any of these ways they
will be likely to die if left on the tree.
The roots of many kinds of trees are
likely to be greatly injured between
the time they are dug from the ground
and set out. Roots of trees out of
ground are much like ''fish out of wa
ter" They will live If they are kept
moist, bot will die if they are allowed
to become dr.. They can be kept
from becoming dry by keeping about
them some of the earth in which they
grew. BY covering them with
damp cloth. moss or hay. or
by dipping them in a pool of water
that contains considerable clay or Ordi-
nary soil in a state of solution or sus-
| pension. These substances will form q
coating which will prevent the dry air
from striking the surface of the roots.
The operation Of coating the roots of
trees with mud il called pudding"
and should be practiced by all who re-
move trees quite distance during
windy, dry or warm weather. Ii is
comparatively easy to so protect the
roots of trees that they can be carried
across the continent without injury.
But the roots of trees are often greatly
injured by being hauled dozen miles
in an open wagon. The covering of
the roots of trees is very tender and
liable TO be bruised BY rubbing against
the side OF the wagon. 1t il also liable
to crack if exposed to the action of the
wind and sun.
Ground III which trees are 10 be
planted should be we'll prepared before
The trees are brought TO it. The sod
should be rotted and the soil deeply
plowed and well pulverized. If the
trees are TO be planted quite near to-
gether saving in digging holes may
he effected by opening double burrows
on the line of the rows. A sharp spade
and. If the ground be quite hard. pick
should be employed in preparing the
hole for the roots. Ii should be of
size TO hold all the roots without bend
ing or crowding them. If the soil is
Ioo>ened for some distance beyond the
end of the roots they will be encOur-
aged 10 push themselves in the direc-
ton of it. At least two persons are
needed TO set out trees eNpeditiOusly
and economically. One person is re-
quired TO hold the tree in position
while the other places the earth about
the roots. The earth spread about the
roots should be rich and firm. All
turfs and hard portions of earth should
be rejected. Ii possible, trees should
be planted when the soil Is in the best
condition to work. If it is quite dry is
is wellto throw pail of water about
the roots after the hole is half filled.
This will carry the soil about the
fibrous roots. where it is needed. After
an hour or two the filling may be COM
pleted with soil that has not been
wetted. The earth should not beheaped
ND around the tree, but left fiat and
tramped down.
In setting out trees it is generally
best 10 incline them q little in the
direction from which the prevailing
winds come. After s. heavy wind the
trees should be righted, if they have
blown partly over, and the earth
pressed about the roots. After new
roots have formed the liability of newly
set trees to blow over will be dimin-
ished As rule trees should be set
no deeper in the soil to which they
have been transplanted than they stood
in the nursery or forest. The collar
of the root. which is generally well
marked, should be even with the sur
face of the ground where they are to
grow. If trees are transplanted from
low and moist ground to that which is
high, dry and sandy, they should be
set at a greater depth. 1t is best to
temove unpromising and injured
branches, and to shorten some of the
longer ones on setting them out. This
pruning, if judiciously done, will i'm
prove the form of the trees, prevent
them from being easily blown over.