Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-02

81 - s
Planting Trees in the Fall.
Beyond question the early portion OF
the spring is the best time for trans
planting nearly all kinds Of fruit, ornt-
mental and timber trees. Their vitality
is then strong, and they are in the best
condition to recover from the injuries
caused by being dug up, transported q
considerable distance, and placed IN
new position. As the sap begins to cir
culate in the early spring the wounds IN
ficted while digging up the roots and
pruning the branches soon heal. Leaves
appear in short time, and they shade
the trunk and branches, keeping the
bark moist and soft. The old roots ex-
tend in length, early in the spring, and
new ones start out in alldirections,
which seem to make the trees stand firm
in the places where they are planted.
The soil in early spring, unless the sea-
son is unusually wet and backward, is
in the best condition for working. 1t
can be readily packed about the roots,
80 az to make the newly set trees stand
firm. Rains are frequent in early spring
and they wash the soil about the roots,
where it is needed. They also supply
abundant moisture, which insures a
speedy growth. A gradual increase of
temperature, such as occurs in spring, is
varv favorable to recently-se trees Of all
kinds.
While early spring is in all respects
the most favorable time for transplanting
trees, many causes prevent doing the
work at this season in the northwestern
states and territories. The time for
doing spring work in the fields is very
short at best. All the small grain must
be sown as early as the state of the soil
,, will admit of working in order to insure
a good crop. The delay of a few days
in sowing wheat, oats, rye, or barley
will ordinarily cause large reduction in
) the yield. Wet weather ordinarily great
!. " reduces the time in which the seeder,
= drill, and harrow can be used IN the
grain-felds. As soon as the grain crops
are put in it is necessary to prepare land
for corn and potatoes. By the time these
I crops are planted trees have leaved out
" to such an extent that they are liable te
suffer If they are removed. Besides the
preparation of land for annual crops, the
> planting and sowing, there are many
other kinds of work that must be done
during the spring months. The manure
8 about the stable and in the cattleyardl
: must be hauled out and the fences re
paired about the pastures. On mos
J farms in the northwest there are NJ
9 hands that can be spared for obtaining
y and setting out trees.
9 It is often difficult to obtain trees from
y q distant nursery or forest in earl.
o spring. The roads are ordinarily In YER.
b bad condition, and often they are nearl..
IT impossible. Nurserymen, as a rule, ar
. very busy. In many cases they can no
fill orders at the times when they ar
it given. In their hurry they are likely t
d iniure the roots of many trees in takin,
6 them up. In the fall they have plent..
Is of time for doing this work and will de
d vote more pains to it. The patron Of
= nursery can make better selection Q
ir trees in the fall than in the spring, whel
l. the finest specimens have been picke
10 out and disposed OF. The roads in tn
ID country are generally in very good con
1t dition late in the fall, and farmers hav
olenty of time to obtain trees from
p nursery. They also have time for dig
s. ging holes, pruning the trees they oh
h tain, and for setting them out. Farmer
r who had to much to do last spring
=. allow them to obtain and set out tree
70 will do well to consider the propriety
ID obtaining them the present fall, for th
10 chances are that they will have as muc
to do in preparing for annual crops mel
planting season as they hal at the con
mencement of farming operations tt
present year.
K On places protected by shelter belts
u, rising ground trees may be planted
IN the fall to good advantage, as the big
of winds that occur during the winter vi
m be prevented from doing them an injur.
r. II trees are set in the fall in exposed Ell
er uations most of their branches should
70. shortened and some of them removed b
an fore they are placed in position. E
Ill adopting this course they will be le
IS! likely to be injured by the wind.
ke any case the soil thrown about the roo
e. should be firmly pressed down. Ear
on should also be drawn up about the trul
K 90 AZ to form cone several inches hig
in When this freezes it will give suppo
he to the tree. It will also prevent mi
he and rabbits from eating the bark.
'er the spring after the frost is out OF t
ne sod this cone Of earth can be level
X down. Trees should not be set befU
IT. all the leaves have fallen from them,
ng they promote the evaporation OF sap
he they remain on the branches. In Lar
1T proportion of cases trees transplant
lp- quite late in the fall do very well. GU
,ht large trees can be moved in winter b