Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-08-29

An account of a series of expert
ments in tree planting several years
ago, in which I 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 vio-
lently and yet they made more growth
than trees planted in the usual way
with the roots carefully trimmed to
cut of 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
-vhiIe 1t was thoroughly puddled.
Out 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 80 per cent and
one of the exceptions was carried out
in such n light and sandy soil that the
effect of ramming was slight and of
short duration.
The roots of the rammed trees were
necessarily more or less injured by
these trees seemed to be suffering
from this treatment. but It was of
short duration.
1t 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 l cannot believe that
the ramri1ing did much damage to the
roots. TO. 1t is inconceivable that bad
ly mashed roots was the result. for
experience shows that roots SO In
jured rot on
In speaking of putting the trees in
small holes. this is samewhat after
the Stringfellow method where the
roots of the trees are trimmed on to
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 a
fine state of looseness by means of
frequent cultivation. followed by
mulching.
The capillary OF the lower soil is
increased by its close packing SO that
water from below is induced to rise
abundantly to the roots of the trees
and plants while Its evaporation is
checked by the fine and loose condi-
tion of the surface soil.
! believe that these experiments
went far to prove that a heavier
stamping in of the soil over the roots
of trees than is commonly practiced.
or even ramming is beneficial. and
that cutting the roots back. say with
in three inches Of the stems. causes
the development OF a more healthy