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'"'• v '• 24 Numbers. 



CHICAGO, APRIL i, 1898. 



Single Copt No . _ 



10 Cents. "°" '34- 



£: 



THE TIME OF BLOSSOMS IN JAPAN 



Trees and Shrubs. 



TREE PLANTING. 



In sections of the country where the 

 soil is clayey and compacted or where the 

 winters are severe, I consider spring the 

 most favorable period in which to plant 

 trees, shrubs and perennials. Planting 

 on banks, or in any especially well drained 

 position, may be an exception unless in the 

 case of a few decidious species and ever- 

 greens. The latter, in our climate, should 

 never be planted in the fall. There have been 

 discussions on this point in Gardening, 

 even the late Robt. Douglas (the best au- 

 thority on evergreens then living) joining, 

 the verdict being that while they might 

 be moved carefully on one's own grounds 

 early in the tall, it was best not to at- 



tempt the planting of those that had to 

 be shipped from a distance. In the milder 

 climate of the eastern coast fall planting 

 is a success, 



The success of planting depends more 

 upon the planter than upon the nursery- 

 man who sends out the stock, and who 

 is often blamed for failures. It is best 

 not to bring home a new horse until you 

 have built the barn, and it is always best 

 to have your tree holes ready by the time 

 the stock arrives. The words "tree 

 holes" should be obliterated from the 

 vocabulary of garden terms. We should 

 say that we are preparing a home for the 

 tree, as that is what we are really doing. 

 I have seen tree holes in a heavy clay soil 

 that were nothing more than slightly en- 

 larged post holes, in which some species 

 might live, but they certainly would not 

 thrive there. One dislikes seeing a half- 



starved animal in one's possession, and 

 should dislike seeing a half-starved tree. 

 In making the home for the tree, if the 

 soil is compacted and poor — not rich 

 prairie loam — dig out a space fully five 

 feet in diameter and two deep — deeper and 

 wider would be better — and fill in with 

 good soil. Not soil over-enriched with 

 manure, especially if fresh, which is posi- 

 tively injurious to newly cut roots. 



The growth of recently planted trees is 

 somewhat like the recovery of a convales- 

 cent patient, to whom too rich a food is 

 dangerous. If one had cut some sod from 

 the roadside or pasture last fall and piled 

 it up over winter it would be ideal soil 

 for almost any planting. When filling 

 the excavation let the soil rise fully four 

 inches higher than the surrounding sod 

 to allow for settling. It is well, if you 

 expect a rainy season, or if the situation 



