Evening star., 1941-11-08

well justified. The roots should be
spread out just as much as posi-
BILE SO as to give them the maximum
area from which to secure moisture
and food. In many cases it is de-
sirable to make cone of loose
earth in the bottom of the hole to
aid in this spreading
BY loosening the soil in the bot
tom of the hole we make it easier
for the roots to penetrate deeply
into the soil The deeper we can
encourage them to penetrate the
less they are apt to suffer from
drought. Well-rotted manure and
bone meal mixed into the loosened
soil places the plant food where it
is easily reached by the roots.
With the holes prepared and the
shrubs ordered, the next step is to
be on hand at time of delivery.
Plants are perishabie and need all
of the protection that can be given
to them if they are to survive the
transplanting with the minimum
shock. Make sure that they have
not been exposed to drying winds
while en- route from the nursery
and that they are moist and full Of
their natural vitality when received.
Keep them that way. Use wet bur-
lap to cover them, and if small it
is advisable to carry them to the
planting hole immersed in a bucket
of water Dried-out roots may be
hy- Snolyipn SoUQro1
hours in a tub of water, although
they should not be left in water for
more than 10 or II hours.
In placing shrubs and trees in
the hole it is desirable to place
them about I inch deeper than
they grew in the nursery. Usually
this is easily determined from the
earth marks on the trunk or stems.
However, in making this setting
allow for the settling of the soil.
The deeper the hole was dug and
the soil worked the more it may
be expected to settle.
Work the soil in among the roots
and pack it tightly so as to avoid
air pockets. Many humorous re-
marks are made about the success
of planting being related to the
size of the shoes worn by the gar
dener. Boiled down this refers to
the thoroughness with which the
soil is packed about the roots. AS
a further safeguard it is advisable
to run water into the hole after
it is three-fourths filled and tamped.
When the water has soaked into
the soil complete the filling of the
hole.
1t is assumed that all broken and
injured roots were pruned before
planting to give a smooth surface
that will heal quickly. The tops
should now be pruned to remove
all broken and injured branches.
In addition 1t is good practice to
thin out the branches. This tends
to re-establish a balance between
the top and the root system. Thin
ming out is preferred to cutting
back in that the natural graceful
outline is not destroyed. although
this may not be practical with
small-Sized shrubs having only one
or two branches. However, the
smaller sized plants usually lose
fewer roots in transplanting.
AS a final step it is we'll to mulch
the soil as a means of reducing
evaporation and to keep the soil
from heaving. Leaves held In place
with brush are good If an open
space is kept around the trunk or
branches. Mice oftentimes make
their nests in weeds and leaves
and feed on the bark of trees and
shrubs.
Large shrubs and trees should
be braced to prevent injury by whip
ping about in the wind. Stakes
or guy wires may be used. Wrap
ping the trunks of large trees is
also recommended.