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this worthless soil dug from the bottom of the pit. Have ready good 

 substantial stakes, sufficiently stout to effectually prevent the trees from 

 motion. Do all this before you start for your trees, and not leave it to 

 be done when your "poor trees, like so many fish out of water, are 

 pantinf and suffering for a return to their native element." 



Selecting and Digging up. — Procure trees of low and rather stalky 

 growth, from open grounds, if possible. Avoid those of tall and slender 

 form growing in deep and shady woods. Be sure the trees are healthy, 

 young and growing. Having selected your tree, dig a trench two or 

 three feet from the body all around it, deep enough to cut off every root; 

 then dig under until it is easily loosened and turned out of its bed. Be 

 careful and preserve every small root within the circle, for upon the pre- 

 servation of the rootlets principally depends your success. Lay the trees 

 upon a long wagon ; protect the trunks and roots from being bruised and 

 barked ; cover the roots if the sun shines, or if there is a drying wind at 

 the time. 



Trimming and Setting out. — Cut off all the bruised and broken roots ; 

 next, cut off not less than one-half the top by shortening some, and cut- 

 ting other limbs entirely away, as the shape of the tree may require. Set 

 your trees no deeper than they originally grew, unless the soil be light 

 and sandy, when you may set them three or four inches deeper. Having 

 adjusted the roots in their natural position, drive your stakes before the 

 roots are covered, that you may avoid injuring them; then fill up with 

 finely pulverized surface soil, gently pressing it in every cavity. After 

 the roots are lightly covered, pour in one or two pails-full of water; 

 then finish by filling and treading it firmly. 



Mulching. — Take half a bundle of straw to each tree; if the tree is 

 of a large size, spread it evenly about the roots, then cover slightly with 

 soil, leaving it a little "dishing;" this will prevent the evaporation of 

 moisture, and keep the soil light and porous, permitting the water to 

 penetrate freely. Old tan-bark or rotted chips will answer quite as well 

 for this purpose as straw. You must not water your trees too often. 

 Once a week, even during a protracted drought, is enough ; daily water- 

 ing is positively injurious. Do not consider the work completed until the 

 trees are secured from motion, by firmly fastening them to the stakes ; 

 for be assured, if they are permitted to move about with every wind, 

 they will perish. Transplanting trees in winter, with a ball of frozen 



