Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-07-02
TREES LIVING THINGS.

There was never more tree-planting
going on in New England than there
is today when orcharding and forestry
are taken into consideration; and
good deal of the work is being done
by amateurs in a careless and slovenly
way. hence the losses are great and
discoura cement Increased. An author
ity upon this work has this to say to
those who are engaged in it:
"One thing to remember in the plant
ing of fruit trees and plants is that
they have life. Every tree and plant
is a living thing. When trees are dug
from the nursery row, packed and
transported long distances, their life
has been jeopardized to say the least
There has been a check in growth and
a loss of vitality. BY the time the
plants reach the planter they are lit
tie more than half alive, no matter
how carefully the digging, packing,
and shipping has been done Then for
the receiver to handle the stock care
lessly after it has been received is
more than the plants can stand. Ere
quently the nurseryman is blamed
when trees die after planting. Ere
quently he deserves the blame, but
more frequently it is the planters own
fault.
'HAu trees and plants should be i'm
mediately unpacketF when received and
heeled-in until everything is made
ready for their actual setting The
roots should not be exposed to the
drying influence of the sun or wind
for even a single minute Moistened
bags should ever be kept about the
roots when the plants are out of the
goodbye to them.
In planting the soil SbOuId he
frmed sOlidly about the roots. SO that
the trees can get an immediate hold
on the earth. This not only enables
the plants to make new roots readily,
but it gives the plant firmness and ad-
mits the old roots to absorb moisture.
Large holes should always be dug for
the trees. The time saved in digging
those little, mean holes is lost later
in the actual growth Of the plants.
Not only should the holes be large
enough TO admit the roots to spread
out in their natural position. but big
enough to allow goodly supply of
mellow earth to surround the roots
The poorer the soil. the larger should
be the hole. The trees should be set
an inch or two deeper than they stood
in the nursery. In the case of budded
stock. the union should be an inch or
two below the surface of the soil In
liedNy SOILS the painting should not
be as deep as in light soils 1t is i'm
portant that no air space is left about
the roots in planting. BY using the
fingers to work, the soil in about the
roots. and the feet or a tamper to
firm the soil after the roots have been
covered an inch or two, there is little
danger of air spaces remaining in the
holes.
When the tree is dug in the nurs-
cry many of the roots are severed In
some cases three-fourths of the roots
are cut away, and most of the feeding
roots at that. Before it was dug there
was an equal balance between, the top
and the root After it is dug this
balance is disturbed. Tine top is much
greater than the roots. To again bal
ance the plant the top must be Sc
verely pruned. A failure to prune the
top after planting always results dis
astrously. 1t may not always kill the
tree, but it puts a check on its growth
When the trees are set in the fall this
severe pruning of the top is best left
until spring. All broken and bruised
roots should be cut back to sound
wood before planting"