The river press., 1914-08-05
PLANTING AND CARE
OF YOUNG TREES
Thorough Cultivation Of the
Soil Is Necessary.
PACK SOIL AROUND ROOTS

The young stock may be rapidly
planted by the use of common
spade, line of binder twine and two
men. The spade is pressed into the
soil the full length Of the blade. tilted
slightly forward to allow space for
the young plants or cuttings to be
inserted, then withdraw. The soil
should be thoroughly packed about
the roots OF the young trees and
cuttings by using the heel of the shoe
or by any other method that will do
good work. This point is very i'm
portant Thorough cultivation OF
the soil should Immediately follow
planting in order to provide dust
mulch for preventing evaporation of
moisture from the soil. A one or two
horse cultivator are excellent tools
for this work. When trees from six
to ten feet high are planted, holes
from eighteen to twenty-four inches
square and about two feet deep should
be dug. Loosen up the soil in the
bottom of the hole with pick, throw
In some moist top soil, cut off broken
or damaged roots with a sharp knife,
then plant the tree, being careful to
work the soil in between the roots.
Only enough dirt should be thrown in
at first to cover the roots we'll, then
step into the hole and thoroughly
pack the soil. Small additions of
dirt, followed by the process of pack.
ing, should be continued until the
hole is filled, being careful to leave
the top soil level and loose in order
to form dust mulch. The roots of
all trees should be dipped into a thin
mud bath before being taken to the
neld to be planted, then kept cover
Cd until placed In the ground. The
small seedlings may be placed in the
pail containing small amount of thin
mud and thus carried along the row
when planting. No water or mud
should be allowed on the foliage or
evergreens at planting time if the sun
IL shining, as 1t is almost sure to
cause damage by scalding.
Should the ground be dry at plant.
ing time it is advisable to puddle the
roots of the larger trees This is
done by covering the roots we'll with
dirt after the tree has been placed in
the hole. then pouring in few pals
OF water. After the water has been
soaked away the hole is filled in the
ordinary way.
The care Of trees after being re-
ceived from the nursery is an i'm.
pcrtant item that should not be over
looked. The roots must never be al.
lowed to become dry from exposure
to the sun and air after being dug at
the nursery. Evergreen roots, espe.
cially. should never be exposed for
minute to the suns rays, as the
sap is resinOus and no amount of
soaking In water will remedy the
matter. II the trees cannot be plant.
ed at once when received it is a good
plan to heel them in the soil and
give them good watering. then stir
the top soil after the water has soak
ed away.
should be shallow and frequent and
continued until the trees are large
enough to thoroughly shade the
ground. During dry seasons it is es-
pecially advisable to cultivate well
and often, as the hot. drying winds
rapidly evapOrate the moisture from
the soil. Usually it is not desirable
to cultivate late in the season before
the leaves have fallen, as this may
stimulate late growth which might
winter kill badly. After the leaves
have fallen it is an excellent plan to
give the grove a light dressing OF
either we'll rotted or coarse manure,
then cultivate well.