Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-17
The Spring Planting of shade Trees.

To the Editor OF The Evening star
Where the proper preparation fo- the sprin z
plan ing has not been made as it should have
been last fall. the next best plan is that ,p-ac-
hced by the Cdrin Springs Village improTe-
ment Association. which is as follows First,
mark the spot where the tree is to be trans
planted: next make circle three feet in dame
ter with the corner of the spa de. then throw
out the top course. which includes the sods to
the full depth of the spade. and put it one side
of the excavation. Throw on: on the opposite
side the next course below and puiverize the
soil well by striking it with the back of the
spade. Lastly, throw the next course below,
that is. the apparently worthless subsoil. on
another side, making three distinct piles of
soil.
In planting place the sods first taken out in
the bottom of the hole. putting the grass side
down. ana make the surface nearly level by
tramping and the Use of the spade. when the
director Of the planting. who should have a
pair Of leather gloves. should step down into
the hole and place the tree on line aud lean the
top about five degrees toward the point from
which the strongest winds come. Then have
about two quarts OF the timely pUiveri Zed soil,
that ls. the second course which taken out,
thrown in upon the roots at a time The planter
IN the meantime should work Industrioaslv in
moving the tree up and down and forcing the
soil with fingers firmly under the bottom of the
tree. AS TIE earth Is tnrO"n IN IL shoui0 De
gently but firmly trodden upon tine
roots which have been placed in their
natural position during ;he progress
of the planting. Usually some additional sur
face soil Is taken up few feet from the tree
and thrown in and firmed by light treadinS
with the feet. If sods are thrown in care is
taken TO place the grass down. lie planting is
completed by throwing il the subsoil that is
the last taken out in digging the hole. the
soil about the tree Ia LETT some two or three
inches higher than tine general surface of the
land where the tree is planted. By the middle
of June the grass in the vicinity OF the trees
should be cut down and scattered close about
each tree to the depth OF four to six inches.
When getting the trees from tne nursery
they should never be exposed to the action of
the sun and driving winds. but be kept covered
and MOST This is particularly true of ever
greens, AS their sap is composed of resinous
matter which when once dried no amount OF
soaking in wa!er will dilute and restore to its
normal condition. As rule all trees should
be set two inches deeper than they stood In the
nursery the place from which they were
taken. Before planting the ends of all bruised
and broken roots should be cut OFF, sloping
from the under side. When the cuts become
calloused ard the tender rootlets push out
from them tine tree should be secured between
two firmly driven stakes by means OF leather
straps rye straw. the long body OF shade
tree. when acted upon by high winds, has such
powerful leverage that II this precautlon is
not taken all the tender rootlets on the side
from which the winds come the strongest will
be torn off and the growth retarded until new
ones can be formed. In mulching four to six
inches of stale manure. il placed few feet
about each tree, is somewhat better than
grass. but either will keep the ground from
getting dry and hard, and the tree is much
more sure to grow. c. s.