The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-11-16
Suaszspss gutfIligsuess.
Planting Trees by Dynamite

Wonderful Improvements for the bene'
fit of mankind have been the result of a
mere accident followed by Investigation
which has developed advantages which,
but for such accident or circumstance,
would never have been known. Many
years ago man was planting pecan
grove on his place. Itso happened that
where he wanted to locate tree 1t came
above an abandoned old dwell, which had
been filled with odds and ends. Scrap
ing from little hillock near by, he
filled the hole with soil to the surface and
planted his pecan nuts. What was the
astonishment of the owner to find that
this pecan tree outstrippsd all the others
being twice as high in the same length
of time. By chance the nut planted
prodoced a valuable thin she'll va
,iety of nuts, which were uucommonly
fiue. go
We are told that in 1889 the product
ofthat tree sold for forty dollari. OF
results since We have no knowledge.
The great need of pecan tree is means
of sending down large tap root and the
place thus rendered by accident, as it
we're, prepared the tree for It's best
growth. Time is of great Importance
to the life of a quick growing plant, and
here is where the use of dynamite is OF
such wonderful advantage for pecan
growing. A tree before 1t comes of
much growth above ground, must &C
quirs strength in it's roots to force ia way
through the; hardpaun ORE clay subsoil
which underlies most soils. This takes
one OF two years, perhaps more. An old
tree will generally push its roots any
where. A young tree may be stunned BY
its roots meeting obstacles that they
would EASILY overcome if the trees we're
a few years older. Such good ahak-
ing up of the ground with dynamite
opens thousand avenues for the roots
that would otherwise be closed. Itmay
enable tree to get in the first season q
foothold and q range of feeding ground
that it might not get in five years if left
to open the ways by its own unaided
force. The access of air to the roots and
to the soil is of the utmost Importance.
The great difference in the quality and
quantity of the fruit, as we'll as in the
general health of the tree, is due almost
entirely to the access to- the roots Of air.
which before; was largely cut off by the
puddled snrface which, was always left.
In ordinary way of planting this formed
an almost impsrmeable paste upon the
top, and when it became too dry and hard,
there was but one remedy-to pour on
more water.
The soil should hold moisture without
holding water. The surplus should run
away. It is probable that the slightest
amount of surplus water about tho roots
of trees more than Is necessary to give the
tree moisture enough to evaporate
through Its leaves, and to moisten the
ground enough to allow it to feed to the
best advantage, is Injurious. The COM
pactness of soil and want of moisture
about the roots of trees, is probably one
cause of 30 much poor fruit. "A rapid
growing tree will produce finer fruit than
will those Of slow growth. With the
great advantages given by the pulveriz.
ing of the ground, it is not unreasonable
to expect finer fruit, larger yields than
can be produced in the ordinary way of
planting. Wherever there is any ques
tion of hardpan or clay, no matter how
thin the layer, the use of dynamite is ad'
visable, and the same result is attained
as in the case of planting pecan tree on
the old we'll.
1t is a maxim among contractors and
all who have to excsvate the earth, that
"powder is cheaper than men," The use
of dynamite in planting trees is not
new, it having been pscticed in Cali
fornia, in San Diego county, for yesra.
The result has been in the marvellous
increase in value of the lands in that
section. s
No such growth has ever bsen seen In
tree culture on the richest and deepest
bottom lands, as on the thin looking up.
lands that have had the bottom of the
hole shaken up with dynamite until bar
rels of water could be run into it With
out standing moment.
One who has never seen the effects of
the dynamite in tearing up soils has little
idea of its simplicity in using it, or the
power one little stick of it will exert.
Take for instance in excavating in rail.
road building. Here il face Of earth ten
feet high with dozen men at work at it.
Although there is no rock or hardpan, 1t
has lain go many ages in place that the
pick brings down but a small portion at
each strike, snd its marks shine on the
face almost the same as if it we're rock.
Mark now the difference A churn drill
is run down ak or eight feet in depth and
some ten feet or more from the edge of
the face where the men are working. A
stick of dynamite and fuse are inserted,
the whole costing twenty-five cents or
less. A dull, mufled "boom" follows in
short time the lighting of the fuse.
You could with safe stand very near the
hole and experience little besides a
trembling of the ground around you. At
the hole you see bit Of earth rise few
inches and fall back as if 1t was too much
trouble to fly far, but beyond that the
ground would merely shiver as if 1t had
g chill. When the workmen sgain 30 to
work at the face of the bank the differ
ence ia marvellous. Dozens Of cubic