246 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



out to a sufficient depth, the bottom of the hole should be loosen- 

 ed, and a portion of the surface soil or rich earth mixed with 

 it, filling up the hole so far as may be necessary to suit the 

 root. Having the root properly trimmed, set it carefully in 

 position, with the fibres spread naturally, and fill in gradually 

 with good earth finely pulverized, shaking the root gently 

 once or twice to secure the filling up of any open spaces. 

 When the roots are well covered with the earth, take the body 

 of the tree in your hands, and, holding it true, press the earth 

 with the foot upon the roots with moderate firmness ; then fill 

 up the hole about level with the surface, hilling a little if the 

 planting is done in the fall, and dishing slightly i done in 

 the spring. 



If your soil be very wet, dig the holes as above directed, and 

 refill them again to the surface, or very nearly, and, spreading 

 the roots upon this loose surface, hill the earth over them, and 

 carefully stake your tree. In wet soils of a deep boggy or 

 mucky nature, and that can not be drained, holes need not be 

 dug, but the tree may be set immediately upon the sod, and 

 covered by hilling largely, staking it strongly, and mulching 

 it. See Fig. 119 b, p. 244. 



Whenever it is found necessary at the setting out to stake 

 trees, it would be well to have the stakes set firmly into the 

 holes and ranged with precision before removing the trees, in 

 which case they may be easily and accurately arranged in po- 

 sition by being afterward set uniformly upon the same side of 

 the stake ; but, whether set before or after, let them be firmly 

 bound to the stake with a straw or other coarse band, passing 

 and crossed between the tree and the stake, so that, in case of 

 frequent winds, it will prevent rubbing ; and having spread 

 around them, if it is spring, coarse litter, or straw, or loose 

 rubbish of any kind, as mulching, weight it with a few stones 

 to keep it in place, and your work is done (Fig. 119 6, p. 244). 



If drought occur, you may, if you deem it necessary, apply 

 water through the covering of mulch or litter ; but avoid the 

 not uncommon practice of pouring pails of water into the holes 

 when planting, by which the earth, which should be loose and 

 friable, is made into mud or mortar, which a succeeding heat 



