60 Landscape Gardening 



The late Peter Henderson, than whom there have been 

 few, if any, more successful growers of all kinds of plants and 

 trees, tells a story in one of his catalogues illustrating the 

 benefit from the firm pressure of the soil about the roots. 

 ^' A lady to whom he had sold some rose bushes wrote to him 

 about the condition of her plants after she had spent much 

 time in planting and caring for them, stating that only one 

 out of a dozen had lived, and that one her husband, who 

 weighed 240 lbs., had accidentally stepped upon soon after 

 planting." It is also sometimes said that the '^ heaviest 

 man or the one with the largest feet is the best man to 

 plant trees." 



Too much pressure may be given to the soil about the 

 roots in planting, but generally the error is in the opposite 

 direction. To crowd the soil under and around the roots and 

 press it firmly, a pointed stick is often better than the foot. 



In planting, the tree is placed in the hole at the same 

 depth it grew in the nursery if the soil is of the same char- 

 acter, a little deeper if it is lighter, and perhaps a little 

 nearer the surface if heavier, and after carefully spreading 

 out the roots it is ready for the covering. Only fine, mod- 

 erately rich soil should be used for filling in around the 

 roots, and this should be carefully worked into placed with 

 the hands and firmly pressed, until all the roots are covered 

 two or three inches deep, when the work may be completed 

 by treading down and tamping, taking care that the bark 

 of the roots is not injured in the process. 



After the fine soil to the depth of three or four inches 

 is firmly pressed in place that remaining is thrown loosely 

 on top and not trodden at all, thus serving as a mulch. When 

 the soil is compacted on the surface, it is in condition to 

 carry off the moisture rapidly, but if it is light and mellow 

 its capillary condition is broken up and the moisture cannot 

 escape. 



