TREES THEIR PLANTING AND CARE. 61 



Where water is not available a inulch of some coarse organic 

 matter, like straw, meadow hay, corn-stalks, fine brush, 

 weeds, or even planing-machine shavings or spent tan-bark, 

 covering a little larger area than the size of the hole in 

 which the tree was set, will aid in keeping the moisture 

 from escaping. This should not be put on more than 

 two or three inches in thickness, for if too thick it 

 causes the roots to grow near the surface, when they would 

 be liable to injury during the winter or in extreme dry 

 weather. 



Keeping up an After-growth. 



When the trees are planted, it must not be expected that 

 the end of one's work has come, for unless the soil is 

 naturally very rich or is made so by heavy manuring trees 

 will not continue to grow without some additional plant 

 food each year. When planted on the lawn, if the grass is 

 clipped once or twice each week and liberally dressed in the 

 fall or spring, little or no further fertilizing for the trees 

 may be needed; but even under this condition a mound of 

 manure banked against the trunks before the ground freezes 

 in the fall will be of great protection to the collar or crown 

 of the roots. This method of manuring trees in poor soil 

 is advisable, a liberal supply being used, and in the spring 

 spreading it around on the lawn about the trees. Com- 

 mercial fertilizers, like ground bone and potash, fish and 

 potash, or even the specially prepared fruit-tree fertilizers, 

 may be successfully used. 



The Arrangement of Trees. 



Trees are arranged or grouped together in ornamental 

 gardening to accomplish the following results: for shelter 



