The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-04

ID. P. Roe. in Harper's Magazine.


As rule. have not much sympathy with the
effort to set out large trees in the hope of obtain
ing shade more quickly. The trees have to be
trimmed up and cut back so greatly that their
symmetry is often destroyed. They are also apt
to be checked in their growth so seriously by
such removal that slender sapling, planted at
the same time, overtakes and passes them.
prefer young tree, straight stemmed, healthy
and typical of it's species or variety. Still. when
large trees can be removed in winter with q
great ball Of frozen earth that insures the preser
walton Of the fbrous roots, much time can be
saved. 1t should ever be remembered that prompt.
rapid growth of the transplanted tree depends
on two things-plenty of smallfbrous roots and
a fertile soil to receive them. It usually hap
pens that the purchaser employs q local citizen
to aid in putting his ground in order In every
rural neighborhood there are smart men; smart
is the proper adjective, for they are neither
sagacious nor trustworthy, and there Is ever
dismal hiatus between their promises and per-
Torrance. Such men lie in wait for new
corners, to take advantage of the inexperience
and necessary absence. They will assure their
eonfding employers that they are beyond learn
ing anything new in the planting Of trees
which is true in sinister sense They will
leave roots exposed to sun and wind in
brief, pay no more attention to them than
baby farmer would bestow on an infants appe-
tite, and then, when convenient, thrust them
into hole scarcely large enough for post.
They expect to receive their money long before
the dishonest character of their work can be
discovered. The number of trees which this
class of men have dwarfed or killed outright
would make forest The result Of a we'll
meaning yet Ignorant mans work might be
equally unsatisfactory Therefore, the pur-
chaser of the acre should know how q tree
should be planted. and see to it himself. or he
should, by careful inquiry, select man for the
task who could bring testimonials from those
to whom he had rendered like services in the
past.
The hole destined to receive shade or fruit
tree should be at least three feet in diameter and
two feet deep. It then should be partially filed
with good surface soil, upon which the tree
should stand, so that its roots could extend nat
urally according to their original growth. Good
fine loan should be sifted through and over them,s
and they should not be permitted to come in con-
tact with decaying matter or coarse. unfermented
manure. The tree should be set as deeply in the
soil as it stood when first taken up. AS the earth
is thrown gently through and the roots it
should be packed lightly against them With the
foot and water, should the season be rather dry
and warm. poured in from time to time to settle
be leveled at last with a slight dip
toward the tree, SO that spring and summer
rains may be retained directly about the roots
Then mulch of coarse manure Is helpful, for it
keeps the surface moist, and its richness will
reach the roots gradually in a diluted form. A
mulch OF straw, leaves or coarse hay is better
than none at all. After being planted, three
stout stakes should be inserted firmly in the
earth at the three points of triangle, the tree
being its center. Then, by rope Of straw or
some soft material, the tree should be uraced
firmly between the protecting stakes, and thus
it is kept from being whipped around by the
wind. Should periods of drought ensue during
the growing season, it would be well to rake the
mulch one side, and saturate the ground around
the young tree with an abundance of water, and
the mulch afterward spread as before. Such
watering is often essential, and it should be
thorough.