WINTERING NURSERY STOCK DELIVERED IN THE FALL 393 



WINTERING NURSERY STOCK DELIVERED IN THE 



FALL. 



D. M. MITCHELL, OWATONNA. 



I was asked by our secretary to prepare a paper on wintering 

 nursery stock delivered in the fall, but I do not want it understood 

 that I am advocating fall deliveries by complying with his request. 



The instructions given in Green's "Amateur Fruit Growing" 

 are good and if followed carefully will give good results. The 

 book is easy to get and very instructive. By digging a hole in a 

 well drained location so that when the trees are laid in the roots 

 are about two feet and the tops a few inches undei ground, we have 

 all the depth that is necessary. Many people are of the opinion 

 that we want to dig deep and put on a covering to prevent hard 

 freezing. This is a mistake. Before trees are put in the pit see 

 that every bit of packing material is removed, then spread them 

 out so that the earth can be packed securely around the roots, then 

 moisten and fill with earth until the trees are covered — not necessar- 

 ily all the roots ; then lay on boards over the top lengthwise ; after 

 which fill the hole, covering tops, roots and all, mounding up to pre- 

 vent water from standing. 



When spring comes — and be sure and wait for real spring — 

 dig down until vou come to the boards, take them out, and you can 

 then take your hands and take the trees out without injuring them 

 in anv wav. If this method is followed, trees will come out in 

 the spring in good condition. This applies to apple, plum and 

 almost all nursery trees. 



Gooseberries and currants can be planted in October very 

 successfully ; in fact I prefer it to spring planting. Some varieties 

 of raspberries are often planted successfully in the fall by using 

 plenty of covering. 



We have had remarkable success in planting willow and 

 Carolina poplar cuttings in the fall. These especially can be 

 planted them profitably, as time is usually not as valuable as in tht 

 spring. 



Rose bushes and flowering shrubs are often delivered in the 

 fall and heeled in in the same manner in which trees are. We hav» 

 had even better success in planting peonies in the fall. They are 

 then ready to grow when vegetation starts, and we have had many 

 fine blossoms from divided roots the following summer. If you 



