40 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



Fertilizing Transplanted Stock. In using fertilizers it is not 

 advisable to apply them in any quantity so that they will come in 

 direct contact with the roots of newly transplanted stock. It is always 

 essential for plants to become estabhshed before they can make use of a 

 fertihzer; otherwise injury may result. Until a tree makes a new 

 terminal bud on the second growth its root system has not become 

 established nor has it developed fibrous feeding rootlets sufficient to 

 support the tree. A safe recommendation is that fertilizers should be 

 so distributed in the soil surrounding the roots of transplanted stock 

 that the food can become available as soon as the roots have started 

 growth. In transplanting nursery trees and large trees a slow-acting 

 fertilizer, such as bone meal, can be used in the soil around the roots, 

 because the fertilizer will become available at the time when the tree 

 has developed some of its new root growth. 



Tamping and Watering. Soil should be made compact in among 

 the roots of newly transplanted stock by watering or tamping. Tamp- 

 ing may be accomplished by pressing down the soil with the heel or a 

 stick. In tamping, care should be exercised not to press too heavily 

 Immediately around the stem of the plant, as in so doing injury may 

 be caused by the breaking of roots. Soil that can be readily packed 

 should be used around the roots. This is necessary, as any air spaces 

 remaining will cause drying out of roots and consequent injury to the 

 plants. 



If water is available, it is advisable to run some slowly into the holes 

 where material is planted, either at the time of planting or immediately 

 after planting. The best plan is to put it in when the hole is partly 

 filled with earth around the roots. This is done further to compact 

 the soil and to provide necessary moisture. Unless soil is particularly 

 moist, newly transplanted stock should be watered shortly after 

 transplanting. It is not advisable, however, to apply very much 

 water in soils or sites extremely retentive of moisture for it is quite as 

 easy to injure plants from over-watering as it is to preserve them by 

 giving them just sufficient water to meet their requirements. 



Transplanting Small Seedlings. For transplanting small seed- 

 lings of trees and shrubs a well-protected spot should be selected, and 

 the ground should be prepared to a depth of twelve or fifteen inches by 

 deep spading and careful raking. Prepare the area in the same way 



