4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



the trees. Too heavy manuring would be injurious, if it should 

 come in immediate contact with the roots. Plow deep and 

 thoroughly cultivate. 



Third, Distance Apart. Two rods, iovty feet is better; anyone 

 conversant with tree roots knows that they run a very great dis- 

 tance from the trunk. If trees are set two rods apart, and well 

 cultivated for six years, their roots will meet. Then they become 

 robbers. 



Fourth, How to Set. Well, it is presumed that everyone knows 

 how to set a tree. But I will say this, set two inches deeper than 

 they stood in nursery. Remember that the ground settles, but the 

 tree does not. Pack the ground thoroughly about the roots in 

 setting, too, within two inches of the top; finish with mellow 

 earth. Then mulch. I will not use the word holes, because 

 the whole field should be pulverized to the depth you set your 

 trees. 



Fifth, Now Protect your Trees. You know that when people 

 set trees on a lawn or boulevard, they protect them by hay or 

 straw rope wound around the trunks from the ground to the limbs. 

 Now take warning. There are various ways of protecting your 

 trees. Take long slough grass or rye straw, tie three times with 

 string — lath may be used, three or four laths fastened by light 

 wire, or if you want a neat thing, buy wire cloth, cut it of suitable 

 width, fasten with fine wire. Wiry, most of you have old screen- 

 doors or fanning mill sieves, or old stove pipes. These will 

 keep off the mice and rabbits. But protect the trunks of your 

 trees. I consider this the most essential part of all the 

 tree-planting. You must protect the trunks from the direct rays 

 of the sun or you will not succeed in orcharding. I should have 

 said above to lean the tree about forty degrees to the two o'clock 

 sun; now drive a stake on the two o'clock sun side of the tree 

 one foot from the tree; twist a straw or hay band, put it around 

 the tree, put the ends together and twist hard, then open the 

 ends and put around the stake and tie firmly. Now r , you say, 

 what is that for? Well, it is to keep the tree from rubbing the 

 stake, and ward off the whifnetrees. You say there is too much 

 leaning. Better lean to the southwest than the northeast. You 

 will find that your trees will be erect enough when established. 



Sixth, Height of Top. I used to favor low tops for the reason 

 that it protected the body from sun-scald, but now I want the 

 trunk of sufficient height to conveniently work the land. Now if 

 you have complied with former directions, remove the bandage 

 once a year, say in May, and wash your trees with strong lye. 

 (The only thing that a man is justified in lying about, if his lye is 

 only strong enough.) Then replace the bandage or protection. 

 If you are too lazy to protect your trees and wish to keep the 

 rabbits off, take from the privy vault, and with an old broom or 



