FROM SEED TO GROVE. 35 



will amply repay for the extra care at the start ; it is much 

 easier to plow a straight row than a crooked one. 



The four feet space between the rows permits the culti- 

 vator, harrow, or plow to be used, and the one foot space 

 between the young trees allows of thorough hoeing. The 

 ground should be thoroughly moist, both in the seed-bed 

 and in the nursery, when the plants are to be moved; 

 never under any circumstances attempt to transplant when 

 the soil is dry, either wait for a soaking rain or water the 

 ground artificially. Loosen the plants carefully, thrusting 

 the spade down perpendicularly, and work it back and 

 forth until the soil is detached from the roots. The mo- 

 ment the plants are out of the ground put them in the 

 shade, and in a tub of water; if they are left in the 

 latter for ten or twelve hours, so much the better this 

 is true of all trees, large or small. Be careful to exclude 

 the sunshine : more harm is done to trees, old and young, 

 by allowing the sun to touch their tender roots even for a 

 few minutes than many people realize. Never take up more 

 than a thousand at a time unless there be a large working 

 force, for it is of the utmost importance to keep them out 

 of the ground as short a time as possible. Sort the plants 

 and throw away all the stunted, inferior ones, for they 

 will make only stunted trees ; the Spartan plan of putting 

 to death all the weakly, sickly infants is a good one to 

 practice here. Prune back the tops and make them as 

 uniform in size in each row as possible. It is a good plan 

 to place the trees in small boxes and throw wet soil on the 

 roots, withdrawing them one by one as they are set in the 

 rows, or else keep the roots in pails of water while planting. 



In planting press down and back and forth a nursery- 

 man's dibble at the intersection of the rows and cross-lines ; 

 spread out the roots in the hole thus made, pack the soil 

 down firmly around them, being sure to leave no vacant 



