Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-11-10
Planting Trees.
Prairie Farmer.

Prof. A. j. Cook, professor OF 20
ology and entomology, Michigan
Agricultural College, in a late
bulletin gives some timely advice in
relation to tree planting, for the
reason that even when planted in
the spring, the autumn is a good
time to do some preliminary work
therefor. As to trees, Prof. Cook
says:
First, good, vigorous trees, with
ample, bushy roots and rootlets,
should be secured. 1t will often
pay to purchase such from nur-
sery. If secured from the forest,
they should be dug SO carefully that
there shall be no lack Of roots and
rootlets. In either case it will often
pay to set the roots in some fertile
field, where they can be cultivated
we'll for one or two years, when
they may be transplanted to
street or roadside. This course
will insure such added vigor
that it can hardly fail to give salts
faction. Once dug, the trees should
be reset as soon as possible, and
never exposed to the sun. Such
exposure Of the roots is almost sure
death to evergreens, and very harm
full to all trees. If any roots are
badly bruised, it is we'll to cut such
off, and at the same time, the tops
should be heavily pruned, so that
the balance between top and roots
may not be seriously disturbed.
The hole, where the tree is to be
set, should be large, so the roots can
be spread out as they naturally
rested in the earth, previous to
transplanting. If the soil is hard
and barren, good soil should be at
hand and should be added literally
about the tree. / have found this
not very laborious or expensive. A
load of good soil is driven along
close beside the holes and used as
needed. The earth is pressed firmly
about the roots. After planting.
which may be done either in fall or
spring, the trees shonld be still cared
for. As soon in the spring as the
earth is in good condition to work.
each tree should be spaded about for
two or three feet around the tree,
and then well mulched with good
coarse manure. This should be
spaded under the succeeding spring,
and mulch again added. Such labor
continued for three or four years
will usually pay well, in the added
vigor which it secures to the trees.
In case the trees are maple, apple
or locust, it is very important that
action be taken the first two or
three years, to secure against attacks
of borers. This should be done in
the month of June, about the mid
die of the month. A cloth should
be dipped in soft-soap or very strong
soap-suds. and then used thor
oughly to rub the trunks of the
trees, so that they are thoroughly
soaped. This will keep the borers
off, and should never be neglected
the first two or three years after
planting the species named above.
It would be safer to give this treat
ment-about the 10th of June, and
again about the last of the month.
If to be applied but once, it will pay
to add carbolic acid to the wash as
follows: Use one quart Of soft
soap or one-half pound Of hard soap.
whale oil preferable, to two gallons
of water; heat this till it boils, then
stir in. thoroughly one. pint crude
carbolic acid. This holds its virtue
longer than does the soap alone, and
one application about June 10th
suffices to resist the borers.