42 AMERICAN HANDBOOK 



34. One of the commonest errors is deep 

 planting. The fibres or feeding roots of a 

 tree, cannot exist long far beneath the sur 

 face. Abstracting a portion of their supplies 

 from the atmosphere, they must be contigu 

 ous to it. I have seen peaches, maples, and 

 elms, killed in six months by having the 

 soil about them raised fifteen inches. Those 

 who delight in seeing how nature works, 

 may look at any old forest, where the fibre- 

 bearing roots cover the surface like railroads 

 on a modern map. The tap roots only, 

 bearing no fibres, and evidently acting solely 

 as supports to the tree, penetrate far into the 

 soil. 



35. A fear of the tree blowing over, or 

 becoming parched in summer, is a common 

 motive for deep planting. A tree planted 

 with long roots (par. 10) will never blow 

 over ; the weight of soil on the roots keep 

 ing them in their position. 



When otherwise planted, they should be 

 securely staked ; and if liable to parch, the 

 soil ought to be covered with short grass or 

 other substance, as a mulching. If, however, 

 the principles of planting, as I have explained 



