200 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 
THE PLANTING AND CARE OF ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS AND 
TREES. 
W. M. BERRY, SUPT. OF PARKS, MINNEAPOLIS. 
I have been asked to explain the method of tree planting which I have 
used, and which has proved so successful with the trees in the parks of | 
Minneapolis, that their health and vigorous growth has excited general 
remark and admiration. 
In reply I have only to say that I have no new discovery to reveal, and 
my success in planting has been solely due to the careful observance of 
such directions as are given in every treatise on tree culture, and are well 
known to every nurseryman who understands his business. 
These are: First, the proper preparation of the ground, with abundant 
room for the roots to spread, and a supply of rich earth to feed them; 
second, a careful selection of the trees, the all important point being that 
they have good roots and abundance of them. 
Amateurs, in selecting trees from a nursery, for the most part, are gov- 
erned in their choice chiefly by the appearance of the stem and branches 
of a young tree, which are of little consequence in comparison with the 
roots. If the latter are abundant and healthy, they insure such health 
and vigorous growth, that any trifling lack of symmetry will disappear 
long before the tree arrives at maturity; but if they are poor and insuffi- 
cient, no treecan makea healthy growth. Nurserymen know this fact 
perfectly well, but if they try to convince an ignorant purchaser of it, 
he thinks they want to impose some poor stock on him, and insists 
on a Straight stem and a good head. 
I am always careful to have the ends of all large roots cut off smoothly 
on the under side, and in planting to have all the roots spread out to 
their full extent and fine soil worked into the interstices; and also to have 
the head cut back correspondingly to the roots,so that the demand shall 
not be beyond their power to supply. 
After planting have every tree carefully mulched to a depth of five or 
six inches, and for a space considerably beyond the spread of the roots. 
Finally, I regard this as merely preliminary work. The tree is a mere 
infant,and must be carefully nursed and tended for several years after 
planting, giving it abundance of water in times of drought, and directing 
its growth by pruning, thinning or heading in the branches to make sure 
of its forming a symmetrical, evenly balanced head. 
