The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02
WHAT TO DO IN APRIL.

This Is the season for planting trees,
shrubs and hardy plants. and the work
should be done as early as possible
while vegetation is inactive. Ever
green's may he planted several weeks
later than decidious trees. but as a
rule the earlier the work Is done the
better.
Keep the roots OF trees and shrubs
covered with earth or damp moss IN
I'll the moment they are to be put in
the ground. II not ready for planting
when the stock il received take them
from the box or bundle and heel them
in. This will keep the roots from
drying and the labels should be ar
ranged so that any particular tree
can be selected as wanted. Heeling in
consists ~ digging a trench. say a
foot deep and two feet wide. in any
convenient spot in the garden. The
roots of the trees are set in the trench
and the earth sprinkled over them 50
that all the ROOFS will he covered, 'rm-
ing the soil by treading with the feet.
Thousands and thousands OF trees
are killed every year by planters az
lowing the roots to become dry. and
the nursery man from whom they
were purchased is condemned for the
carelessncss OF the purchaser.
A stake should be set where each
tree or shrub is TO he planted n the
name may he written on the stake,
De the holes carefully and OF ampi"
sizr SO the roots may assume a natural
position in their new location. Put the
top soil around the roots n the bal
an,c on the surface.
BEFORE the stock is set ont prunc tho
branches lack from a third to a hair
uf the last seasons growth. So the tree
vii, h. able 70 thrive less the roots II
has lost through Is removal from IN"
spot where st originally grew. cut
III the ends oc an bruised roots, lcav-
Ius a clean, smooth NJ.
Set tho trees % they wNl I've a. deep
as they stood In the nursery. The
feeding roots are rear the surttcy
therefore too deep planting il injdri-
Gus. Dwarf pears and puddod roses
should he set with the bud or the
uniuu Of the stock and Cion two inches
below the surface.
Work the soil well in around the
roots. and as soon As the roots are
covered tramp Gown the sol, with the
feet and gently pour in ii pa, Of water,
and a second and third pail II the soil
is dry. until the soil is thoroughly
mo.stcned. Wat until the water has
soaked IN and then I'll up the hole.
Do not plan, trees on land that has
been cut down 10y grading or ii'lcd in
with earth from a cellar and expect
them to grow. In such cases a cubic
yard " earth should he dug out and
the excavation filled with good soil.
Start new lawns by seeding or
so,iding. old lawns should be well
raked and rolled. Grass Will start with
warm weather. a s~prinkltnG Of pre-
pared stable or sheep manur will I've
beneficial to old lawns. A light
sprinkling OF ground m IL also good,
EverEre-ns.
Evcrgreens in confined places
planted where they cannot fully de-
vclop. may he clipped and kept In
shape and at the size desired. Arboi
VITAE, heinlocks, spruces n Junipers
can ali be treated in this manner
The pruning causes dense growth anS
makes very beautiful thick specimens
Especially is this true of the Norwa,
spruce. which when allowed to grow
. naturally-that IL. single specimens
become open, and by cutting m tn
/, head whcr ten or twelve feet high /
will form a compact and beautiful
tree. The white pine will stand prun
; ing, hut most OF the pines do hes
, when permitted TO grow on naturally
In pruning always cut back to
= bud so the new growth will start fror
the very tip end of the remaining
part,
Some cvergrccns become bare a
the base and are unsightly, The rom
+, ed, i, to head them back and tr.r
the side branches. If a head or leade
is lost in any confer. as is sometime
the case, a side shoot tied in an ereC
position will soon the positio
OF new leader. Leaders should not h
v allowed to form on side branches, a
/ they sometimes do.
Hedges.
Keep hedges trimmed hack. q
: neglect in this respect viii ruin tn
, appearance Of thu hedge.
= B"x Edginx.
= BOX cdging can be set in Apri
: The trench in which it is set must b
q cut perfectly straight and the plant
s, close together i'm the trench. Kee
the plants clipped back to six inchs
!. In heieht or less. ~clippiuR Early In III