36 College of Forestry. 



THE CARE OF THE TREE BEFORE PLANTING. 



Success in planting depends in no small degree upon the 

 care given the trees from the time they are taken from the 

 ground until they are placed in their new home. If the tree 

 is shipped from a nursery, it should be handled and packed 

 in such manner as to insure its arrival at its destination 

 without damage to any parts and especially in the matter of 

 the drying of its roots. After receiving the tree, great care 

 should be exercised that the roots are not uncovered even for 

 a very few minutes. In case the planting cannot be done 

 soon after receipt it should be planted temporarily near the 

 proposed location for the tree. 



" Heeling In " will Protect the Roots of Trees from Drying. 

 When a quantity of trees are to be held prior to planting, 

 a good method is to " heel in." This is done by digging a 

 trench so that a bank is formed on one side with a slope of 

 about 30 degrees with the ground. The trees are then placed 

 as near together as possible with the stems leaning against 

 the bank. As soon as the trees have been placed, the roots 

 together with about one foot up on the stems are covered 

 with the soil taken from the side of the trench opposite the 

 trees. The soil is well distributed among the roots so that no 

 air spaces surround them. If necessary, another row of trees 

 may be placed leaning on the covering of the first and so on 

 until all the trees have been heeled in. In this manner the 

 trees may be held in check for a considerable time. It is 

 always well to dig the trench east and west and lean the trees 

 toward the north so as to prevent the buds from direct rays 

 of the sun. If it is necessary to deliver the trees to the plant- 

 ing location at some distance from the heeling in ground, 

 this may be done successfully by loading them onto a hay 

 rack or some similar truck. The roots should be covered on 

 all sides so that drying is prevented. The packing material 

 used in shipping from the nursery or old blankets and burlap 

 may be used for this purpose. The trees should never be 

 subjected to any conditions that cause the drying of the roots. 

 This precaution is necessary for success in transplanting. 



