The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-05
NEWLY-PLANTED TREES.
How to Carry Them successfully Through
the First Summer Season.

NEWLY-PLANTEO TREES.
How to Carry Them successfully Through
the FIRST Summer Season.
The first summer is. without doubt,
fully as critical period to newly set
trees as is the first winter Unless
they are carried through the first
summer in good shape. they will GER
tainly be in no condition to enter upon
hard Northern winter.
There are three precautions that
must be taken if we would insure a
thrifty condition of the tree during
this trying season. In the first place
they must not carry too much top. We
like to start with good sized trees, that
the bearing age may not be too far dis
tant. In such cases we do not get a
root at all in proportion to the top.
Unless we go directly to the nursery
ourselves anil superintend the taking
up OF the tree the root is apt to be very
limited, indeed. for labor and trans
pOrtation are items that even the most
conscientious nurseryman must consid-
er in connection with his prices and
profits.
A newly set tree has all it can do to
establish itself in it's new location the
first summer, without having large
top drawing upon the limited root for
sustenance. Without sacrificing due
regard for the ultimate form of the
top, the limbs should be shortened
back as severely as possible. There
should be enough top left to serve as
lungs or breathing surface for the
tree. Bare poles, as we sometimes
see transplanted naples, are not con-
ducive to thrift.
AS the second precaution, large
trees should be firmly staked in place,
especially in the more wind-exposed
portions of the West No tree can
take root as well when swayed about
by the wind. The roots must be left
undisturbed in order to gain hold.
A bowl is formed in the earth about
the stem if the tree is allowed to sway
back and forth with every wind. This
causes the lower stem and roots to dry
out more or less, which is always a
Getriment. The future form of the
tree must also be considered. On this
account, if for no other reason. the
tree should be staked the first year or
two.
The third and most important pre-
caution of all is that of keeping the
young tree we'll mulched. Mulching
Is fully rs important in summer as in
winter. 1t serves three purposes in
summer 1t keeps down weeds and
grass about the tree, holds the neces-
sary moisture in the soil, and furnishes
fertilizing material by the most natural
process-that of filtration from the
surface. In their natural haunts, trees
are always protected by mulch, sum-
mer and winter. Each year adds a
new layer to the leaf mold that shell
ters and enriches the roots. When
trees are set in an open field that is
swept by the winds, they are deprived
of this natural protection. When we
take their care upon our hands it stands
to reason that we should adopt some
means for giving them the needed pro-
lection.
Thorough mulching does this. 1t
not only protects the roots from the
drying summer winds, but holds up a
supply of moisture against time of
drought, that is pretty sure to come
some time during the summer season.
For the summer season this mulch
should be of coarse material, such as
strawy manure with enough muck or
rotten manure mixed in to hold the
whole in place. If by any chance the
mulching be scattered or blown away.
it should be replaced promptly. Many
weak young tree has been carried
through long, hard drought by this
means alone. 1t is an item of the ut
most Importance to fruit raisers. 1t
will not do TO have this coarse material
about trees in winter. as it affords
shelter to mice. A mound of muck or
earth raised about the stem is as good
as any thing in winter. The coarse
mulching put around the trees in spring
is often sufficiently rotted by autumn
to be safely left as a winter mulch.
w. ID. BOynton, in Western Plowman.