SOIL AND PLANTING. 21 



ing the action of storms from disturbing its equilibrium. 

 This latter class of roots is seldom of large size in nur- 

 sery-grown trees, owing to their having been frequently 

 removed ; but in a young seedling taken from the forest, 

 it is almost always the only kind that are found. 

 These tap-roots are considered by most writers on the sub- 

 ject to be of only secondary importance in affording 

 nourishment to the tree, the rootlets and small fibres 

 thrown out just under the surface of the ground perform- 

 ing that service. 



When transplanted, young forest trees very frequently 

 die from the want of a sufficient number of these surface 

 or fibrous roots ; but, were it not for the long and power- 

 ful tap-roots when the tree arrived at maturity, and, as is 

 .often the case, presenting a tall, branchless body, the tree 

 would inevitably be destroyed by heavy winds. 



Every intelligent writer for years has "kept it before 

 the public " that a tree should never be planted deep, and 

 in fact, shallow planting is absolutely necessary to insure 

 a healthy growth. In setting out a tree, allowance should 

 always be made for the settling of the recently moved 

 earth, so that when the soil returns to its usual compact- 

 ness, the tree shall stand the same height as it did pre- 

 viously to being disturbed. 



This is, perhaps, the most important part of the whole 

 operation, and upon a close observance of this fact de- 

 pends the future prosperity of the tree. 



In planting evergreens, many ignorant persons use fresh 

 stable manure, placing it directly in contact with the 

 roots. This will assuredly cause decomposition to take 

 place, and the death of the tree will frequently be the result. 



The soil for filling-in should be taken from an old pas- 

 ture, or along roadsides, first paring off the sod. This, 

 with the addition of a little sand, unless the soil is 

 naturally very light, is, without doubt, the most suit- 

 able that can be used. When convenient, peat, from 



