10 April, 1916.] Tree Planting. 231 



If the soil is composed of miscellaneous rubbish, as is often found 

 in streets, it is well to remove same from the hole and replace with good 

 fresh soil of a loamy character. 



Planting. 



As trees of a deciduous character are generally received from nursery 

 with bare roots they should be heeled in at once till ready to plant. 

 If this is not done the roots become dried, and the chances are against 

 the tree doing well. 



Before planting, such trees should have all injured roots cut off and 

 tops pruned back to make a proper balance between root and top. If 

 this is not done the transpiration through the leaves will be greater than 

 the absorption through the roots, and as a result the tree will become 

 wilted and die. 



Staking is also an important item. Tying to guards is equivalent to 

 staking. Once the roots of a young tree take hold of soil, any interference 

 with the tree in endeavouring to straighten it, or in any other way, will 

 injure the newly formed rootlets to the detriment of tree. Assuming 

 then that the Eole and young tree are properly prepared, the stake (if 

 necessary) driven into ground, or the guard fixed, the roots should be 

 evenly spread out with their ends dipping into soil — covered with fine 

 soil — and the hole filled in with sweet surface soil, remembering to 

 plant the tree at its original depth in the nursery. 



After Attention. 



If trees are planted under the most favorable conditions and do not 

 receive proper after attention their future prospects are anything but 

 bright. 



Until the ti'ees become firmly established, and, indeed, afterwards, 

 regular watering is necessary during the summer months; injuries to 

 trees require doctoring; pruning needs attention; and insect and fungus 

 pests must be kept in check. When trees are planted they require a 

 thorough watering to make soil compact around roots, and when hot 

 weather sets^iu this should be done at regular intervals. 



Shade trees, growing in streets, are especially subject to mechanical 

 injuries. Where any part of the trea is injured the affected portion 

 should be cleanly severed in order to allow nature to effect her own 

 repairs by means of that wonderful recuperative capacity singular to 

 the vegetable kingdom. There is a latent power in trees which exerts 

 itself on the trees' behalf when part of the tree is injured. Lost parts 

 may be replaced. This power lies in the fact that the tree has many 

 more buds than can be developed in a single season and which lie 

 dormant till some stimulus is produced either by accident or intention 

 in severing some portion of tree. 



The pruning of some varieties is necessary and beneficial. By its 

 means a symmetrical development of crown may be secured, and a 

 stimulus given to growth of the tree, but after it has become established 

 no unnece.ssary interference by cutting should be tolerated as this often 

 proves to be the beginning of trouble in the wav of decay, &c. 



In5ect and F-unjcu--^ F*ests. 



Most trees are the host of some particular insect or fungus pest — 

 perhaps both. In the case of ornamental and shade trees the worst 



