The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-04-23
TREE-PLANTING.

As n rule, have not much sympathy
with the effort to set out large trees in
the hope of obtaining shade more quick
ly. The trees have to be trimmed up
and cut back so greatly that their SYM
mctry is often destroyed They are also
apt to be checked in their growth so
seriously by such removal that a slender
sapling, planted at the same time, over
takes and passes them. l prefer a
young tree straight-stemmed, healthy,
and typical of its species of variety.
Still, when large trees can be removed
| in winter with great ball of frozen
| earth that insures the preservation of
| the tibrous roots, much time can be
| saved. 1t should ever be remembered
that prompt, rapid growth of the trans
planted tree depends on two things
plenty of small fibrous roots. and fer
| tile soil to receive them. 1t usually hap
pens that the purchaser employs local
citizen to aid in putting the ground in
| order. In every rural ncighbOrhood
there are smart men: smart is the pro-
per adjective, for they are neither saga
cious nor trustworthy, and there is ever
a dismal hiatus between their promises
IL
wait for newcomers, to take advantage
OF their inexpcrience and necessary alb
sence. They will assure their cOnfiding
employers that they arc 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 atten-
ton to them than baby-farmer would
bestow on an infants appetite, 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
a forest The result of well-meaning
yet ignorant mans work might be
equally unsatisfactory. Therefore the
purchaser of the acre should know how
a tree should be planted, and see to it
himself, or he should by careful inquiry
select a man for the task who could
bring testimonials from those to whom
he had rendered like service in the past
The hole destined TO receive n shade
or fruit tree should be at least three feet
in diameter and two feet deep. 1t then
should be filled with good soil, upon
which the tree should stand, 80 that its
roots could extend naturally according
to their original growth. Good fine
loan should be siftcd through and over
them, and they should not be permitted
to come in contact with uecaying matter
or coarse, unfermentcd manure. The
tree should be set rs deeply in the soil
as it stood when first taken up. AS the
earth is thrown gently through and
over the roots it should be packed light
ly against them with the foot, and wa
ter, should the season be rather dry and
warm, poured in from time TO time to
settle the fine soil about them. The
surface should be lcveled Mt last with
slight dip toward the tree, so that
spring and summer rains may be re-
tanned directly about the roots. Then
mulch of coarse manure is helpful, for
it keeps the surface moist, and its rich
ness 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 centre. Then by u rope of
straw or some soft material the tree
should be braccd 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 rs before.
Such watering is often essential, and it
should be thorough.-E. Z. Roe, IN Har-
per'S Magazine for March,.