REMOVING AND TRANSPLANTING TREES. 87 



4. Manure should never be placed in contact with the 

 roots of a tree in setting it out ; but finely pulverized earthy 

 compost may be employed. Young trees may be manured 

 to great advantage by spreading manure over a circle whose 

 radius is equal to the height of the tree, in autumn or early 

 winter, and spading this manure in, in spring. 



5. If the roots of a tree are frozen out of the ground, 

 and thawed again while in contact with air, the tree will be 

 killed. If the frozen roots are well buried, filling all cavi- 

 ties before thawing any at all, the tree will be uninjured. 



6. Never set young trees in a grass field, or among 

 wheat or other sowed grain. Clover is still worse, as the 

 roots go deep, and rob the tree roots. The whole surface 

 should be clean and mellow ; or, if any crops are suffered, 

 they should be potatoes, carrots,, turnips, or other low hoed 

 crops. If an area round about each tree, as far as the 

 branches extend, be properly mulched with coarse manure, 

 grass or clover may be cultivated in an orchard. 



7. The roots extend nearly as far on each side as the 

 height of the tree ; hence, to dig up the soil by cutting a 

 circle with the spade, two feet in diameter, the spade will 

 sever nine-tenths of the roots ; and to spade a little circle 

 about a young tree, not one-quarter as far as the roots ex- 

 tend, and call it " cultivation," is like Falstaff's men claim- 

 ing spurs and a shirt collar for a complete suit of clothes. 



8. "Watering a tree in dry weather affords but temporary 

 relief, and often does more harm than good by crusting the 

 surface. Keeping the surface constantly mellow is much 

 more valuable and important; or if this can not be done, 

 mulch well. If watering is ever done from necessity, re- 

 move the top earth, pour in the water, and then replace 

 the earth; then mulch, or keep the surface very mellow. 

 Shrivelled trees may be made plump before planting, by 

 covering tops and all with earth for several days. Water- 



