I>LANTIKG. 321 



•painstaking. The Larch, Birch, Beech, and some others 

 cannot be transplanted thus late with any prospect of 

 success. All the evergreens may be set several weeks 

 later than deciduous trees. Fall planting of deciduous 

 trees is generally successful if done in October — there 

 being more risk with delicate kinds than with others. 

 This is the preferable season for setting all of the robust, 

 hardy flowering plants, and osiiecially P^eonies. But fall 

 planting of every kind should be done, if possible, as 

 early as the month of October, in order to give the roots a 

 chance to *^get hold of the ground," as gardeners say, 

 and store up some strength against the winter. 



Let us suppose that the stock for planting that was 

 ordered from the nursery, has just arrived, and we find 

 the garden not quite ready for setting them immediatel}^ 

 The trees should be taken from the shipping boxes and 

 carefully heeled-in for a twofold purpose. First, to 

 preserve the roots from drying ; second, to so arrange 

 them that the labels can be examined, and any requisite 

 tree be readily taken out for planting. The heeling-in 

 should be done by digging a trench about a foot deep, 

 and two feet wide, in a convenient spot. The roots 

 should be set into this trench, and fine earth sprinkled 

 upon them, to come in contact with all parts, finishing 

 by filling the trench with the earth first thrown out. 

 The soil should then be firmed with the feet, so that it 

 will be in close contact with all the roots. 



Success in planting depends upon not letting the roots 

 dry. More trees are killed from this cause than most 

 people are aware. From the time that trees are lifted 

 in the nursery, until they are finally planted, every means 

 should be employed to guard against drying of the roots. 

 They often suffer when heeled-in, by having the soil too 

 loose about the roots. Evaporation goes on from the 

 tops, the juices dry out, and under such circumstances 

 they cannot draw in the moisture needed to make up for 



