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advantage over those on unprepared as has corn under the same con- 
ditions. 
Where to Procure Seedlings.—The farmer may grow his own trees 
from seed, procure wild seedlings or purchase from a nursery. Wherever 
possible wild seedlings are much cheaper. They are weaker than nursery 
grown stock, and should be transplanted to a nursery for one or two years 
before being planted in the field. 
Care of Trees Before Field Planting—vTrees should be planted with 
as little exposure of their roots as possible, for the root hairs, upon which 
the tree depends for taking in its food supply, will dry out and shrivel 
up when exposed to dry atmosphere for even a few minutes. Some of 
the broad-leaved species can withstand this drying out if they receive 
proper treatment afterwards. The best way to prevent this is by ‘“pud- 
dling.” <A ‘puddle’ is a mixture of earth and water about as thick as 
cream. It may be mixed in buckets, tubs or barrels and drawn along 
where trees are being dug up so they can be plunged into it immediately, 
or, if the seedlings have been received from a nursery, as soon as they are 
unpacked. If planting is to take place at once the trees may be carried 
to the field in the “puddle.” But if some time is to elapse before plant- 
ing they should be “heeled in” as they are “‘puddled.” For ‘theeling in’: 
Dig a trench deep enough to bury the roots and part of the stem. 
The trench should run east and west, with its south bank at a slope of 
about thirty degrees to the surface of the ground. A layer of trees should 
be placed in the trench on its sloping side, the tops toward the south. The 
roots and stems should be covered with fresh earth dug from a second 
trench, in which a layer of trees is put aud covered in the same way. The 
digging of parallel trenches is repeated and layers of trees put in until 
all have been “heeled in.” 
Time for Planting.—The best time for planting is just before growth 
begins in the spring. At such a time the seedlings are apt to receive the 
least injury. In general the frost should be out of the ground. Frost is 
one of the chief dangers of fall transplanting, for the young trees are 
often heaved out of the ground as it freezes. It is also best to choose a 
wet or cloudy day for transplanting. 
Methods.—After everything has been made ready for planting the 
ground should be marked out in rows four, six or eight feet apart, depend- 
ing on the species, character of the soil and length of time cultivation is 
