The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-03-26
FARM TOPICS.
suggestions on the Time and Manner of
Transplanting Fruit, Forest. and
Ornamental Trees.
Concerning Shoes for HOrses-PreservinE
Fence POsts-HOw to Fail In
Farming etc, etc.
TRANSMITTING TREES.

Concerning Shoes for Horses-Pressrving
Fence POsts-HOw to Fail In
Farming etc., etc.
TRANSMITTING TREES.
In removing seedlings from the nur-
sery or forest to the orchard, lawn or
site of the grove or shelter belt il should
be kept constantly i'm mind that trees
arc living things, that they are very liza
BILE TO injuries of various kinds, and that
their roots are mouths. Ii is impossible
to dig up n tree from the ground where
it sprang from Il seed without cutting
off or bruising some of the roots. Still,
wounds will heal on the roots of a tree
as well as on the trunk and branches.
Not unfrequently Il tree is benefited by
having some of its roots removed or
shortened The root of Il tree that has
received an injury should receive the
same kind of treatment that is given an
injured branch. Ii should be entirely
removed with a sharp knife or saw. or
cut off above the point of injury with
some implement that will leave the sur
face smooth. If this is done iibrOus
roots will generally start out from the
end and be Of great service i'm support
ing the tree. II roots are very long it is
generally better to cut them of in the
ground than To attempt to dig them up
at their full length or to pull them out
of the soil. If 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
are set out. Roots of trees out of
ground are much like fish out of wa
ter" They will live if they are kept
moist, but will die if they are allowed
to become dry. 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
pool of water that contains considerable
clay or ordinary soil i'm state of solu-
ton or suspension. These substances
will form a coating which will prevent
the dry air from striking the surface of
the roots The operation Of coating the
roots of trees with mud is called ''pud-
ding" and should be practiced by all
who remove trees quite distance DUR
ing 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. Ii is also liable to
crack if exposed to the action of the
wind and sun.
Ground in which trees are to be plant
ed should be well prepared before the
trees are brought to it. The sod should
be rottcd and the soil deeply plowed
and well pulverizcd If the trees are to
be planted quite near together Il saving
i'm digging holes may be effected BY
opening double burrows on the line of
the rows. sharp spade, and, if the
ground bc quite hard. a pick should be
employed in preparing the hole for the
roots. II should be- of size TO hold all
the roots without bending or crowding
them. Ii The soil is loOsened for some
distance beyond the end of the roots
they will be encouraged to push them
selves in the direction of IT, AT least
two persons are needed 10 set out trees
cxpeditiollsly and economically. One
person is required to hold the tree in
position while the other places the earth
about the roots. The earth spread
about the roots should he rich and firm.
All turfs and hard portions of earth
should be rejected. If possible, trees
should be planted when the soil is in
the best condition to work. Ii it is quite
dry il is well to throw pail of water
about the roots after the hole is half
filled. This will carry the soil about
the tibrOus roots, where it is needed
After an hour or two the filing may be
completed with soil that has not been
wetted. The earth should not be heaped
up around the tree. but left fiat and
tramped down.
In setting ont trees it is generally best
to incline them little in the direction
from which the prevailing winds come.
After heavy wind the trees should be
righted, if they have blown partly over.
and the earth pressed about the roots
ty of newly set trees TO blow over will
be diminished AS a 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 col
lar of the root, which is generally
well marked, should be even with the
surface 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
ut greater depth. 1t is best to remove
unpromising and injured branches,
and to shorten some of the lOng-ones
on setting them out. This pruning, if
judiciously done, will improve the form
of the tree, prevent them from being
easily blown over, and help promote a
vigorous growth. An excess Of foliage
is not desired on trees that were recent
ly transplanted. II favors a very rapid
evaporation which is unfavorable to the
trees. A sharp knife or shears should
be employed to remove or shorten the
branches, so as to insure speedy heal
ing of the wounds.
Probably spring is the best time TO:
transplanting trees to insure their liv.
ing. The ground is then ordinarily in
good condition to work, and the trees
will soon produce roots that will enable
them to keep their position even if there
are violent winds. Still there are many
arguments in favor of transplanting
trees i'm the fall. There is then no more
leisure on the farm. If transplanted in
the fall they should not be dug up till
after they have cast their leaves. II
set mt this time they will generally do
well. The frozen ground will hold them
in position against the wind during the
winter, and there will be nothing to re-
tard their growth in the spring.
CONCERNING SHOES FOR HORSES.
Dr r. c,rtle,loe IF the ROYAL Veteri.