Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1913-05-15
SUGGESTIONS FOR
PLANTING TREES BY.
FARMER RUSk

Il
Much depends on the care given
the trees from the car to the place
Of planting. Keep roots wet and
excluded from air as much as possi-
Bile with good protection; let roots
get to sunlight and dry out will mean
sure failure. It is well to wrap roots
in straw and excelsior wrapping
round this paper or heavy carpet or
burlap. Earlier in the season when
trees are dormant there is no dan
ger in this regard but now the ex-
posure would kill them.
When you get to the place of plant
ing take one tree out at time.
Pruning
Prune all broken roots and any
roots over 12 or IA inches should be
cut back to this length so they will
not Double back in the hole.
Planting.
Dig hole not over or 4 inches
deeper than roots go and about Is
inches square. Thoroughly pulyerizel
the soil. Put any sod in the bottom
Of hole rather than on top. Lean
the tree little southwest.
The earth should be tamped about
the roots as fast as 1t is shaken in
with the shovel excepting about theI
last inch or two which should bel
left loose and. in mulch, so the soil
will not bake about the tree.
Top Pruning.
The tops Of shade trees should be
cut back considerably to balance the
cut-back roots. In this cutting
back It is usually best to leave a.
central trunk leader and cut side
branches back to a side twig SO
that the limbs will be terminated by
growing point.
Evergreen trees, however, should
not be cut back
In case OF apple and pear tree, we
J think every side branch should be
trimmed to about inches Of main
trunk and as in case OF shade trees,
cut back to side twig whenever
possible. Leave main trunk about IA
inches above the top side branches
leaving only one central leader
q The side branches of peach
trees should be cut back tc
the body or to within one inch OF It.
and the tops should all be cut ou
above 40 inches, this however, de
pends somewhat on size of tree orig
v inally.
The cherry tree should not b'
I, pruned back except in case of brok
!. en- limbs.
The reasons for this cutting back
are as follows In the peach, W.
a have pethy wood and the sap evapor
ate fast. If side limbs are not Gu
off they will die out and simply serv
' as means of evaporation of sap a
: long as they live hence best to re
move at first. In apple and pea
trees this is not true to the sam
/ extent and in case of the cherr
g the side branches do not dry out a
}. all, scarcely.
II Watering Trees.
In case of early planting of tree
IL il is scarcely ever necessary or eve
advisable to wear the trees. Howeye
at this season of the year 1t woul
If probably be advisable to water tn
a. trees. This should be done after IN
IL trees are pruned for the reason Una
! II it is done before pruning the tire
n. will not set firm enough to prun
well. When watering is done
should be done thoroughly. In tn
% case It is not so necessary to tam
ii. the earth when setting the tree
70 since by thoroughly watering U
Nv soil is settled about the roofs II
ma trees may be watered at more
less frequent intervals after plantin
~ When this is done It is best to !
ba move the top three inches OF 81
% before pouring the water on. I'M
ma mt this soil back around the tire
No This is done so the water soa
as down around the roots well al
IN the loose soil put back would tel
i've to prevent its rapid evaporation
,od is believed by practical nursery'm
= that a large percent of the tire
ruined are due to impropr wateri
after the trees are set.
II Working the Soil after Flaming
so To insure success, it is well
:, work the soil at frequent interv
cir with a garden rake after planti
nar The oftener this is done, the bette
~ To Sum Up
~ / Keen trees wet and away fr
Ter. sunlight.
III Q Take one out at a time
',au nlant and do not uncover the wh
ling plant anu Wv
by batch at once.
oar 9. Dig spacious hole and pulveI
in soil well.
'ent 4. Prune as directed.
n. S. If you do not water, lamp
ns. about roots thoroughly.
civ 6. II you water, do a thorough
OF it.
a., Z. Don't fail to leave an incn
- two of loose dirt on top
tno s. Raking about tree after pan
is never overdone
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nav. FARM LOANS