Care in Planting Trees 175 



deeper than usual, and fill up with looser soil, perhaps mix- 

 ing in sand with the clay. Or, at least, exercise care in 

 the use of water, not giving more than the soil can readily 

 absorb. In general, avoid applying water while planting 

 if the soil is fresh and moist, except towards the end of the 

 operation, when, before tilling in the last two inches or so, 

 a deliberate dose may be applied and, after it is soaked in, 

 the planting may be finished by firming the soil well with 

 the foot and completing the filling of the hole with loose 

 soil. Then a few stones, or light mulch, or other cover 

 (see page 173) may be placed over the planting ground to 

 keep it cool and moist. If dry weather follows, water and 

 cultivate. If rainy weather follows, it may become desir- 

 able to remove the mulching in order to avoid choking. 



While most trees and shrubs will stand watering all over 

 with a sprinkler, and will be grateful for it, the broad-leaved 

 evergreens, like rhododendron, resent it, and their foliage 

 is apt to "burn," turning brown. 



If need be (according to size), the trees may be staked to 

 keep them undisturbed from swaying winds, and to gi\'e the 

 root system a chance to establish itself, taking care that the 

 tree is attached to the support in such a manner as not to 

 be injured by rubbing off the bark in the swaying of the 

 wind. jSIany trees are lost by neglect in staking them, when 

 by swaying, contact between soil and root is disturbed, and 

 the latter dries out, or else is broken off. 



When planting in fall, especially with smooth-barked 

 trees liable to sun-scald, it may become desirable in exposed 

 positions to protect the bark by a V-shaped guard or a lath 

 screen or a rope of straw, which prevents the drying out. 



Such care in planting, as described, is not by any means 

 always taken or always necessary to attain success. Under 

 favorable conditions of soil or weather, with vigorous species 



