The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-03-29
PLANTING TREES WITH DYNA-
MITE.


A colohiza ion company in La
Plata county planned LOO trees on
dynamlted soii last April and the re-
sul.s have been SO satisfactory that
everybody who has visited the tract
mas become much interested in this
system of preparing LAID. This
spring practically all the orchardists
OF that section will use dynamite
in their new paintings. We pre-
sumo that the country formation in
the vicinity of oxford is a tena-
cious hardpan for it is under such
conditions that the blowing does
SO much good. When the time for
planting arrives the rows are staked
off east and west, as we'll as north
and south. Red Cross No 3, rs
per ccnt dynamite, which comes in
and two of which weigh about a
pound, is used. Each cartridge of
dynamite is cut into four and some
times five pieces, one pound of dy-
nimite being sufficient for enght to
ten shots.
The fuse is cut into lengths
Of about two feet and SIX or OK full
n inating caps are applied to one
cad with a crimper. One man cuts
tie dynamite and and fuse aud AT
fixes t!.r cars so that all arc III
readiness for use when taken out in
to the | lantfag field. The planting
crew consists of eight men and
each gang sets out carefully 500
trees in a ten hour day. The first
man goes ahead with steel bar
slightly thicker than the dynamite
which punches a hole where the
tree is to be planted. A second mar
follows with the dynamite which
he drops in the hole. he also puts
in the fuse with cap already attach
ed. the cap setting on top of the
dynamite and the end of the fuse
being a few inches out of the ground
Next follow two men who light
the fuse and after the explosion &C.
ours throw out the muffle as well as
any dirt that falls back into the
holes. They then throw in a shovel
full of moist dirt into the bottom of
the hole. Then follow two men with
the trees which have been heeled
in at a convenient distance, one
man holding the tree in line and
tamping the dirt at the roots while
the other shovels in a moist mulch
around the roots. After tho roots
have been covered and tamped. a
tank wagon drives down the row OPP
Grated by two men, one driving and
the other pouring the water into
the tree hole. After the watering
man follows with shovel and
levels up the hole with dry dust
mulch to keep the roots moist. This
part of the work would be unnec-
essary If the irrigating burrows were
plowed out and ready for use.
The dynamite not only makes a
large and ample excavation in which
up the ground for a number of feet
in all directions which not only con
serves the moisture. but also rem
ders 1t easier for the roots to
spread out. The cost of explosives
will average about cents n tree.
The labor cost will vary, becom ing
smaller as the workers become ex-
perienced and proficient. The labor
cost when digging holes with a
spade Is considerably higher. and.
as compared with dynamite. the old
way is slower and less satisfactory.
When one considers the thrifty and
healthy growth of the trees and the
few losses resulting from the dy-
Mantle process, the comparison
becomes more marked. This Is
especially true in heavy soil and
with large paintings.