Mexico Missouri message., 1913-08-28

An account of series of expert /
ments in tree planting several years
ago, in which l participated, may be
of interest.
/ may premise by stating the ex-
traordinary fact that apple trees
planted badly, according to current
rules as to good planting, grew better
than those planted in the orthodox
way.
Trees with injured roots not trim
med were huddled into small holes,
the soil over them being stamped VIC
lently and yet they made more growth
than trees planted in the usual way
with the roots carefully trimmed to
cut off broken or bruised portions.
In the following experiments "a
sets of trees, $50 in all, consisting of
apples, pears plums and cherries.
were used and the result of the first
year of the trials were as astounding
as those mentioned above and even
still more emphatic.
Two sets of trees, as nearly as pos
sible equal in size and vigor, were
tried against each other in each ex-
pertinent, one set being planted in
what is usually regarded as the cor
rect manner, while the trees of the
other set were stuck into the holes
gate-post fashion and the soil placed
over the roots was rammed heavily
while it was thoroughly puddled.
OGt OF ten trials with apple trees
those which had been put in roughly
and rammed gave greater wood
growth in the first season than the
others in eight instances, the excess
ranging from to SO per cent and
one OF the exceptions was carried out
in such light and sandy soil that the
effect of ramming was slight and of
| short duration.
The roots of the rammed trees we're
necessarily more or hess injured by
| the ramming; there was time when
these trees seemed to be suffering
from this treatment, but 1t was of
short duration.
! It was concluded that the effect OF
injury to the roots leads to the forma-
ton of a fresh set of roots, while the
ramming puts the soil in close con.
tact with the roots and probably in.
creases its capillarity.
AS 1t may be presumed that trees
OF all kinds and not fruit trees alone
would be similarly affected by the
methods of planting, the subject is OF
great Importance.
For my part | cannot believe that
the ramming did much damage to the
roots, for It is inconceivable that bad
IL mashed roots was the result, for
experience shows that roots so In
tured rot off.
In speaking Of putting the trees in
small holes, this is Somewhat after
the Stringfellow method where the
roots of the trees are trimmed of tC
mere stumps and the tops much the
same and the trees are thrust into
the holes and rammed. The chief OBJ
ject OF this system is to make the
trees send roots deeply into the soil
as a security against drought.
Great success has attended the sys
tenn of packing the under soil com
pactly while keeping the top soil in ;
fine state of looseness by means o
frequent cultivation, followed b!
mulching.
The capillary of the lower soil fl
increased by its close packing so tina
water from below is induced to ris
abundantly 10 the roots of the tree
and plants while its evaporation I
checked by the fine and loose cond
ton OF the surface soil,
l believe that these experiment
went far to prove that a heavie
stamping in Of the soil over the root
of trees than IS commonly practiced
or even ramming is beneficial, an
that cutting the roots back, say with
I'm three inches OF the stems. cause
the development of wore health