The independent., 1907-03-28

dent lack of good tree sense, as
would Gull it, on the part of amateur
| planters. For their benefit ! would
| say: treat the tree you are planting
with as much consideration as you
would an animal. Look upon it as
| something that has real life and
energy-a being that is sensitive to
kindness and careful treatment Re-
| member, too, that the roots of tree
are much like a fish, whose natural
element is water. These roots then are
as sensitive to dry air as fish-they
would if they could jump around like
fish does when thrown out Of the
water in their efforts to get back to
| their natural element.
They will, it is true, bear more or
/ less exposure to air, but the more
nearly they are free from this ex-
| posure the nearer they are to sue
cessful issue in transplating. One of
| the best and most practical ways OF
| preventing exposure of the tree roots
during the planting operation is to
cover them with d coating OF mud
This is called pudding or "dopeing,'
and consists of plunging the roots
/ into barrel or hole half filled with
a mixture of earth and water. rne
next important factor in successful
planting is in getting the roots well
/ placed in a good, mellow soil, and
with water enough thrown around
/ them to thoroughly settle the soil
about the roots, and also to furnish
the needed moisture for starting the
roots into a new growth.
If the soil is already naturally
moist water may be omitted and the
earth placed around the roots we'll
4 by shaking the tree and pressing
| firmly with the feet.
All broken or bruised roots should
be removed by a fresh cutting with
a sharp knife before planting, and
the tops should be cut back partially
so as to establish a better balance of
top and root. The after-care Of newly
/ planted trees must be as consistent
as with your corn or potatoes. Keep
the weeds down and the soil loose on
the surface by good cultivation or
mulching.
Potato Improvement.
The potato is our great staple vege-
table. 1t is to our tables what corn
is to the farmers stock yard-a great
staple food. We need to pay more
attention to the selection of seed and
general. Our corn improvers' asso-
citation should have a complimentary
association for the Improvement of
the potato. At present there are but
few individuals who are making
any special study along this lirfs. The
majority of our potato proWers are
| agreed as to the Importance of select
in good seed, and of the need for q
change of seed each year Just
now our attention is turned to the
northern grown potatoes for our
spring planting. We believe that it
pays to send to Minnesota or the Da-
kotas If necessary to secure new seed
at least every two years. Nebraska,
however, has a varied enough soil
and one we'll enough adapted to po-
tato growing, so that we need not
/ send outside of our own state TO Sc
| cure change of seed. The north
and northwestern part of our state
has soil peculiarly adapted to the
potato, and we believe our growers in
the south and east sections of the
state could do well to purchase their
seed from the growers of the former
sections.
The great concern of the potato
growers should be to secure good
clean seed free from scab, and also
~ hdNC tilt tuttTS Oh SCOd 1QFm and
size. If such seed can be grown within
our own borders. other things being
equal, we should patronize our "home
| industries"
The FormaIin Treatment.
our potato growers can also 40
much toward improving their potatoes
by use of the formalin treatment of
the seed, Formaln Is a drug thar is
calculated 70 destroy all germs of the
scab or other fungus diseases that
tend TO lnjure this crop.
pint of this fluid. as obtained
from the druggist. mixed with twen-
ty-five gallons of water. is sufficient
10 cleanse enough seed for two or
three acres cf potatoes. Soak the un-
cut tubers In this solution..for two
hours, then dry them and cut up into
sections Tor planting
Care must DO had in hadling this
"A - 10 nh