Trees Their Planting and Care 61 



Watering at Planting 



If the soil is fairly moist and firmly pressed about the 

 roots, there is no need of applying water to the roots of 

 trees at planting; but if in a very dry state, water may be 

 used in the hole before setting the tree, filling it up several 

 times, and after it settles away put the tree in place. 

 Another very good way of watering in a very dry time is, 

 after the roots have been covered with three or four inches 

 of soil, if water is filled in two or three times and be allowed 

 to settle away, and then the surface-soil be filled in light 

 and loose, better results will be obtained with a few pail- 

 fuls of water than if large quantities are used on the surface 

 after the tree is planted. Little benefit can result from the 

 application of water to the surface after planting unless a 

 large quantity is used, so as to saturate the soil down to the 

 roots, for the diffusion of water through the soil when 

 applied to the surface is so slow that it will take a long 

 time to obtain this result; besides, this surface-watering 

 compacts the soil so that after it is done the moisture escapes 

 more rapidly than before. This evaporation after watering 

 may in a measure be prevented, however, if the surface- 

 soil is stirred up with a fine rake two or three inches deep, 

 the fine soil serving as a mulch. 



Mulching 



Many newly planted trees start into growth in the early 

 summer and then from lack of moisture fail to grow. Where 

 water is not available a mulch 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 considerably larger area than the size of the hole in which 

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



