Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-29
rAnL PLANTING or FnUIr rRnEs
Tho Important Question Is Discussed by
an Orchard MaU.

Tho Important Question Is Discussed by
an Orchard MaU.
In the American .dgyicultarist for this
month b. S. HoXe, the Wisconsin fruit
grower, discusses the question of HFail
Planting OF Fruit Trees, !" US follows:
Fall planting has many advocates,
and the reasons given for doing the work
then arc in the main correct, but as our
falls have been very dry for the past
few years, 1t would be bad practice to
set trees In autumn and expect many OF
them to live. Nursery men who are
particularly anxious 10 work off their
stock, try to make it appear that fall Is
the best time for planting. They tell
the farmer he then has more time to at
tend to this work. II the argument
would end here aud they would empha-
size the importance of buying trees, and
then properly hceling them in, their
point would be gained and the farmer
would have his trees ready for the
spring planting.
With the dying of the leaves, the
feeding roots have ceased their func-
tons tol the season. For the next years.
growth now feeders must start from
root and rootlet. The tree standing in
nursery row with roots intact Is able to
draw some moisture from the earth to
supply what is forced out by our dry
atmosphere of fall and winter, but the
tree taken up and transplanted is in Il
new condition, and unless this opera
ton has been performed very early in
the fall and the ground is wet and
moist. as it has been this fall, the tree is
in no condition to supply the moisture
evaporated from its limbs and top, con-
sequently WILDE dead or SO nearly dead
before spring, that the growth is feeble,
the tree stunted, and its vitality i'm
paired. All who have had experience
in striking cuttings, know that If they
are properly buried in the fall there is
very little danger of loss next season.
The reason Is plain. The roots must
come from the callus at the end of the
cutting, and when the cutting is
properly buried this callus is formed in
the fall while the ground is yet warm
and moist, or if not moist enough from
carly rains the planter can make it so,
and then protect by mulch. When
planted out in spring the cutting is in
the best condition for early growth. Ii
cuttings are struck in the spring, quite
often drouth sets in before the callus
has formed and roots pushed out to
lower moisture.
have just examined some Gooseberry
cuttings which were buried abOnt four
weeks ago, and find them nicely cul-
fused and will be in fine condition for
spring planting. Apply the same rule
to apple tees and nursery stock. The
roots have been severed from their place
of growth and cannot be in condition
this fall to supply the evaporated mois-
ture. | would then carefully heel them
| in. But first, if in bundles as they
came from the nursery, cut them apart,
and with a sharp knife cut off all bruised
and mangled roots to good sound bark
and all long slim roots. DO this with
an upward slanting stroke, then puddle
the roots us you would for final plant.
ing, then 3egin putting trees in trench
| letting the tops slant upwards. Be sure
and carefully cover all roots with moist
earth, packing it closely around them
If there is no danger from vermin tho
tops may be covered with leaves ol
marsh hay; otherwise would com
pletely cover with earth. And here lie
inc say there is nothing better for cover
ing rose bushes and other half hardy
shrubs, than earth. When trees are pro
cured in the fall and thus heeled in, tn,
planting can be done just at the RICH
time in the spring, which is when TIN
ground will work freely without beinj
lumpy or too wet. Ii your trees ar
already heeled in, and the work no
well done, it should be attended to a
once, for dry spaces around the root
are very damaging, if not fatal, to trees