THE NORTH DAKOTA FARMSTEAD 55 



be thrown on a separate pile, to give the best soil around the young 

 roots, then add layer by layer, packing down each layer with the feet. 

 While planting do not allow the roots of the trees to dry out. To 

 avoid this place the trees held for planting in a barrel or tub of water 

 which can be moved about on a low wagon or stoneboat. 



TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS 



Special care needs to be taken when transplanting evergreens. 

 Do not allow their roots to be exposed to the sun or wind for even a 

 minute. Move them with as big a ball of earth as is possible to avoid 

 injuring the root system. Do not allow them to suffer for lack of 

 water before they are well established. It is best to get only small 

 evergreens (about 8 to 12 inches tall) for transplanting. Many large 

 evergreens are transplanted in August or late fall. 



MOVING LARGE TREES 



Large trees can be moved in the fall and winter with compar- 

 atively little difficulty by digging around the tree until it is entirely 

 loose, leaving a ball of earth several feet in diameter around the roots. 

 The tree can then be loaded on to a small short stoneboat and hauled 

 to the place where it is wanted. When planting trees in the fall be 

 sure to give them a thorough watering, so that the roots will not dry 

 out over winter and to anchor the trees in the ground, as the water 

 freezes around the roots, thus avoiding injury from the wind by swaying. 



WHEN TO PLANT FLOWERS 



All bulbs, except some of the lilies, should be planted in the fall. 

 Hardy perennials can be planted either in fall or spring. The best 

 time is in the fall after which they should be given good winter pro- 

 tection. Most hardy perennials are planted so that the crowns are 

 just at the surface of the earth. 



THE CULTIVATION OF TREES AND SHRUBS 



All flowering plants, shrubs and trees should be especially well 

 cultivated just after being planted, to conserve the soil moisture for 

 them and to keep down the weeds. In the windbreak and along hedges, 

 horse cultivation is easily given. All the sod should be cut away within 

 a few feet of all young trees and shrub clusters and the ground 

 should be frequently cultivated with a hoe. After trees and shrubs 

 once shade the ground cultivation is not of such great importance. 

 A deep mulch of straw or manure will answer the same purpose. 



