14 



Great care must be taken, however, to keep the roots of conifers 

 moist in transplanting. If the resinous liquids in them once dry out, 

 the tree Avill not live, no matter how abundant the subsequent supply 

 of w y ater. A young cottonwood may be dug up, shaken free from dirt, 

 and thrown down in the sunshine for several hours without killing 

 it, if the roots are given a good soaking when it is set. The same 

 treatment of cedar or pine would insure death. Nursery stock often 

 dies, either because it dried out on the road or because it was not 

 properly cared for on arrival. Trees that have been shipped should 

 have their roots dipped in a puddle of water and earth, about the 

 consistency of cream, and should be planted as soon as possible. If 

 the conditions are not favorable for planting immediately, they 

 should first be puddled and then heeled in. 



To heel in trees, a trench running east and west, and deep enough 

 to hold the roots and about half the tops, should be dug, with its 

 south bank making an angle of about 30 degrees with the surface 

 of the ground. In this is put a layer of trees with the tops leaning 

 to the south. The roots and lower part of the trunks are then covered 

 with fine, firmly packed soil, and water is liberally poured on. In 

 the same way successive layers may be put in until the trench is full. 

 A temporary shade of some sort will lessen the danger of drying 

 out. In the case of evergreens this is very important. 



It -is often asserted that the native red cedar is sure to die when 

 transplanted, but such is not the case. The experience of a resident 

 of McCracken, Kans., is instructive. He went to the bluffs of the 

 Smoky Hill River, dug up a number of red cedars about a foot in 

 height, immediately rolled the roots in a near-by mud puddle, and 

 kept them moist until set. As a result every tree lived, and growth 

 was scarcely checked. At the same time he received a shipment of 

 cedar from a nursery, used equal care, and lost every tree. The 

 nursery stock had dried out either before or during shipment, while 

 the native trees had been properly handled. 



BROADLEAF SPECIES. 



For plantations of broadleaf species 1-year-old seedlings are best, 

 because they are easier to handle and also much cheaper than older 

 trees. They ordinarily run from 1 to 2 feet high, and have prac- 

 tically no branches, so that little or no pruning is required. If the 

 ground has been well prepared and is moist, the setting can be done 

 very rapidly. A man and a boy can work together. The boy carries 

 the trees and hands them to the man as wanted. The latter sets his 

 spade full length in the ground, throws the handle forward, sticks 

 a seedling in behind the blade, removes the spade, steps firmly with 



[Cir. 161.] 



