Trees for the Home Grounds 



87 



higher than it stood before moving, as the ground will settle, and a 

 tree looks better springing from a slight mound than it does rising from a 

 hollow. The mound might indeed be extended into a ridge, receding where 

 there are bays, but coming forward and helping give emphasis to the points, 

 so that the flower garden would occupy 

 a gentle valley. At the time of planting, 

 the ends of the roots should be cut 

 smooth and the space between them 

 carefully filled in with good friable soil, 

 and this should be thoroughly compacted 

 by pounding. If the soil is light or 

 sandy, a stream of water from a garden 

 hose will sometimes be useful in settling 

 and packing it. It is also usually well 

 to cut off say two-thirds of the last 

 year's growtli of branches. Do not dis- 

 figure a tree by cutting off large limbs 

 or "topping" it. Do not attempt to 

 have too great a variety of trees. It 

 is frequently desirable to make a specialty 

 of one kind of tree — for instance, the 

 thorn-apple — using it abundantly, and 

 having comparatively few trees of other 

 kinds. In this way one garden ma>- 

 be given a character that will distinguish 

 it from others. I know of one flower 

 garden that is being formed in an 

 opening between groups of oaks, and 

 no other trees will be planted. 



Trees not only furnish a back- 

 ground for the shrubs and flowers, but 

 they make a boundary for the sky. This fact should be borne in mind in 

 the selection of kinds and in deciding on their arrangement. It is desirable 

 to have a large sky space, and this space outlined by the trees should have 

 a shape as informal as the shape of a cloud. The trees should also be chosen 

 with reference to the size of the garden. For a small flower garden only 

 shrubs should be used as a boundary, or perhaps there might be a single 



Large trees can now be transplanted by experts 

 during every month in the year 



