MOUNDING AND MULCHING 



59 



be girdled. Tender trees or bushes may be 

 lightly covered to the tips with earth. Plants 

 should be heeled -in only in loose, warm, loamy 

 or sandy soil and in a well -drained place. 



Fall -planted trees should generally be mounded 

 up, sometimes even as high as 

 shown 'in Fig. 66. This hilling 

 holds the tree in position, carries 

 off the water, prevents too deep 

 freezing, and holds the earth 

 from heaving. The mound is 

 taken away in the spring. It 

 is sometimes advisable to mound 

 up established trees in the fall, 

 but on well -drained land the 66. Tree earthed 

 practice is not usually necessary. up for wmter - 

 In hilling trees, pains should be taken not to 

 leave deep holes, from which the earth was dug, 

 close to the tree, for water collects in them. 



It is always advisable to mulch plants which are 

 set in the fall. Any loose and dry material as 

 straw, manure, leaves, leaf -mold, litter from yards 

 and stables, pine boughs may be used for this 

 purpose. Very strong or compact manures, as 

 that in which there is little straw or litter, should 

 be avoided. The ground may be covered to a 

 depth of five or six inches, or even a foot or more 

 if the material is loose. Avoid throwing strong 

 manure directly upon the crown of the plants, 

 especially of herbs, for the materials which leach 



