Trees for Kansas. 15 



TIME TO PLANT. 



Most successful results are secured from early spring plant- 

 ing. The latter part of March or early April is the proper 

 time to plant either evergreen or broadleaved species. Early 

 planting allows the roots to begin growth by the time the 

 leaves are bursting and to supply proper moisture for the 

 tree. Late spring planting is objectionable because the leaves 

 come out before the new roots develop and the tree is likely to 

 die and certain to suffer greatly from the lack of moisture. 

 For the same reason it is unsafe to plant trees in the fall 

 where the autumn and winter seasons are dry. Trees set in 

 the fall do not develop feeding roots until the following spring, 

 and during the winter months there is great danger of the 

 stems and branches becoming thoroughly dry by transpiration 

 through the pores in the bark. 



METHOD OF PLANTING. 



In planting trees, the holes should be dug fully twice as wide 

 and twice as deep as the roots require in their natural position. 

 By this method the soil is thoroughly worked over and pul- 

 verized, and is capable of absorbing and retaining a greater 

 amount of moisture than would otherwise be possible. Loosen- 

 ing and aerating the soil liberates the plant food and induces 

 a vigorous growth. The tree should be set in place at about 

 the same depth that it grew in the nursery, and the roots 

 should be spread naturally, covered with three or four inches 

 of soil, and tramped firmly. The object of firming the soil is 

 to bring the roots and soil in close contact. After this the hole 

 should be filled with loose soil to the level of the surrounding 

 ground. The surface should be left in a loose condition for a 

 mulch. 



CULTIVATION. 



After the trees are planted, they demand as careful cultiva- 

 tion as any crop. This fact is too often overlooked in the care 

 of trees. It is unreasonable to expect newly planted trees to 

 compete successfully with the native plants of the region. 

 Cultivation conserves the soil moisture by preventing evapo- 

 ration and keeps down other vegetation which would use the 

 moisture needed by the trees. The cultivation need not be 

 deep, but must be thorough. The more intensive the cultiva- 

 tion, the greater the success will be. 



