HORTICULTURE 71 



though the wind be from the opposite direction. In the latter case, 

 however, the inclination will be less than if the site is protected from 

 heavy winds. 



Filling the Hole. A great many newly planted trees die be- 

 cause of carelessness in filling the hole. It is important that this 

 work be carefully done. If the soil which was removed from the bot- 

 tom of the excavation be hard and lumpy, it should be placed to one 

 side and the surface soil used first in filling. The main thing to re- 

 member in filling is that every part of the root system should be in 

 contact with the soil. Unless it is the exposed areas will be points 

 for the loss of moisture and the drying out of the roots. The soil 

 surrounding the roots must be fine if they are to be well covered. 

 Either loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole, or throw in two or 1 

 three spadesful of loose earth so that when the tree is put in it will 

 sink sufficiently into the soil so that all under surfaces will be in 

 good contact with it. 



The soil may then be filled in using the fine soil first, and com- 

 pacting it well around the roots. There is little danger of compact- 

 ing the soil too much unless it be of a clayey nature, and somewhat 

 moist. After the first few spadesful have been put in, the soil may be 

 packed by tramping. Be careful in compacting the soil not to crowd 

 the tree out of place. The soil should be mounded at the base of the 

 tree above the natural level of the land; the top two inches being 

 left as loose and fine as possible. 



Avoid Fertilizing Young Trees, It is a very common practice 

 to fertilize newly set trees with yard or stable manure. This practice 

 should not be followed. The first activity of a newly set tree should 

 be to develop an extensive root system. If large amounts of plant 

 food materials be placed within easy reach of the tree, the root sys- 

 tem will be confined to a comparatively small area. After the supply 

 of food materials provided at planting have become exhausted, the 

 roots will not have developed sufficiently to secure sufficient food to 

 keep up a normal growth of the young tree, and what was supposedly 

 gained at the beginning will be more than lost by the check which 

 the tree receives. 



Watering Benefits Little. Under normal conditions little if 

 any benefit is derived by watering newly set trees. In the first place, 

 enough water seldom is applied to moisten the soil around the roots. 

 If water is to be given it should be applied in quantities sufficient to 

 nearly saturate the soil to some little depth below the bottom of the 

 roots. Another mistake which is usually made is in applying the 

 water on the surface after the hole has been entirely filled. If water 

 is to be applied, it should be either put on before the top two or three 

 inches of soil are filled in, or if applied to the surface as soon as the 

 soil is sufficiently dry the surface soil to a depth of two inches should 

 be cultivated and put in a fine tilth. 



Litter Mulching Gives Slight Benefit. Practically the same 

 objections which have been raised against watering can be offered 

 against mulching. It is expensive, and as a rule, not enough mulch 

 is applied to be of any material benefit. Frequently stable manure 



