180 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



all been notified by mail to call at a certain livery barn or other suit- 

 able place on a certain date. Nebraska nurseries now pack trees and 

 plants in paper lined cases, each order tied separately and protected 

 about the roots with moss and burlap, or each individual order packed 

 separately and completely covered with burlap, hay, or straw and wet 

 moss about the roots. Goods as a rule arrive at the delivery point in 

 good condition, and losses due to exposure after the trees are taken up 

 at the nursery and before being replanted can more often be charged 

 to the purchaser than to the nursery. 



"HEELING IN." 



It is important that trees be called for on the day set for delivery, 

 as the agent has another point of delivery the next day and can not 

 stay and see that they are kept moist. ^Vhen left in the hands of the 

 livery men or other disinterested parties they are sometimes allowed 

 to become dry, and sometimes very quickly, owing to the dry and windy 

 weather. As soon as taken home the packing should be removed and 

 the trees "heeled in" where the earth is moist and a protection is af- 

 forded against the drying winds. The bundle should be opened and 

 the trees and plants spread out so that moist earth will come in contact 

 with all the roots. They may be left in this condition until the ground 

 for planting has been prepared, but should be planted out as soon as 

 possible after growth starts. 



PLANTING. 



The site for planting should be well drained and the soil quite rich. 

 Applications of manure should not be made near the time of planting, 

 except it be thoroughly rotted. Coarse manure when mixed with the 

 soil allows it to dry out quickly. The ground should be plowed deep and 

 thoroughly firmed down with a disc or subsurface packer so that it is 

 fine and firm, and will not dry out readily. Success, then, is largely a 

 matter of avoiding all unnecessary root-exposure and thorough firming 

 of the soil about the roots. Soaking the roots in water for a few hours 

 before planting sometimes helps very materially toward securing sure 

 growth. If they are to be exposed for any length of time, puddling is 

 also often desirable. 



Holes should be dug large enough to admit the roots in their natural 

 position and deep enough so that the trees will set about three inches 

 deeper than they were in the nursery. The ends of the roots should be 

 trimmed back to solid live wood and the heaviest roots placed on the 

 side toward the prevailing winds. The tops should lean toward the 

 southwest. Fine, moist soil should be placed about the roots and packed 

 firmly with the feet, care being exercised not to bark them. If the trees 

 are watered it should be done thoroughly, adding the water before the 

 holes are completely filled and allowing the water to settle away before 



