Middletown transcript., 1886-02-26
TREE PLANTING


As rule, I have not much sympathy
with the effort to set out large trees in
the hope of obtaining 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.
l prefer young tree, straight-stemm-
ed healthy, and typical of its species
or variety. Still, when large trees
can be removed in winter with a great
ball of frozen earth that insures the
preservation of the fibrous 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 small fibrous
roots, and fertile soil to receive them.
1t usually happens that the purchaser
employs 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 a dismal hiatus be-
tween their promises and performances.
Such men lie in wait for newcomers,
to take advantage of their inexper-
fence and necessary absence. They
will assure their confding employers
that they are beyond learning 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 appetite, and then, when
convenient, thrust them into a hole
scarcely large enough for a 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 a
well-meaning yet ignorant mans work
might be equally unsatisfactory.
Therefore the purchaser of the acre
should know how tree should be
planted, and see to it himself, or he
should by carefal inquiry select man
for the task who could bring testimon-
ials from those to whom he had rem
dered like services in the past.
The hole destined to receive a shade
or fruit tree should be at least three
feet in diameter and two feet deep.
1t then should he partially filled with
good surface soil, upon which the tree
should stand, so that its roots could
extend naturally according to their
original growth. Good fine loan
should be sifted through and over
them, and they should not be permit
ted to come in contact 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 over the roots it should be packed |
lightly against them with the foot, and
water, should the season be rather dry
Ind warm, poured in from time to
lime to settle the fine soil about them.
The surface should be leveled at last
With slight dip toward the tree, SO
hat spring and summer rains may be
etained directly about the roots.
Then mulch of coarse manure is help
ul, for it keeps the surface moist, and
is richness will reach the roots grad
tally in a diluted form. A mulch of
traw, leaves, or coarse hay is better
han none at all. After being planted,
hree stout stakes should be inserted
irmly in the earth at the three points
f triangle, the tree being its centre.
Then by rope of straw or some soft
material the tree should be braced
rmly between the protecting stakes,
nd thus it is kept from being whip
ed around by the wind. Should periods
drought ensue during the growing
eason, it would be well to rake the
nulch one side, and saturate the
round around the young tree with an
bundance of water, and the mulch
fterward spread as before. Such
altering if often essential, and it
hould be thorough.-E. P. Roe, in
Iarper's Magazine for March. I