102 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



become weakened and liable to disease, and often die long before 

 the}' are full}' grown. 



The vigor witli which a newly transplanted tree starts into 

 growth — other things being equal — depends upon the amount 

 of moisture and plant food in the soil, in condition for the roots to 

 take it up as needed. Trees do not start into growth as quickly 

 when planted in turf as when in tilled ground, for two reasons: 

 first, the moisture is rapidly carried off by the numerous leaves of 

 the grasses and other plants ; and, secondly, the plant food is ab- 

 sorbed by other active roots as fast as it is prepared. 



In cultivated land the moisture is kept from escaping by con- 

 stant stirring of the soil, and, there being no other feeding roots in 

 the soil, the trees get an abundant supph* of plant food as it 

 forms. 



The question, then, to be answered, in the turf system of planting, 

 is, can we svpply the proper conditions of moisture and plant foodf 

 If we can is there an}' reason wh}' our hill-sides may not become 

 covered with productive orchards and profitable forest plantations? 

 B_y the addition of a few handfuls of fine ground bone, or bone 

 and potash, to the soil used in filling around the roots of the trees 

 at planting, and by the use of mulching material, both of the above 

 conditions may be easily and cheapl}'^ obtained, and trees thus 

 planted will make as rapid growth as in cultivated land, and be 

 much more hard}', and live to a greater age. 



If there is not enough mulching material on the land it may 

 often be easily obtained from an adjoining lot, or such substances 

 as machine shavings, sawdust, spent, tan, wool waste, bristles, 

 straw, leaves, and other like materials may be used. It will be 

 urged by some that the effect of the mulch will be to cause the 

 roots to run so near the surface as to be injured by the extremes 

 of our climate. This might be the case upon land tiiat is culti- 

 vated, but here it is only needed until the trees have become well 

 established, and is spread only a few feet around the tree. If the 

 land is given up to the growth of trees only, the decaying grass 

 and leaves that fall down annually will keei) up the fertility of the 

 soil until they begin to bear, when, if annual crops of fruit are to 

 be expected, additional plant food in some form must be used. 

 Should the brush growing upon the land after a few years not be 

 needed for mulching, it may be piled up while green, and in a few 

 more years will become a mass of vegetable mould, that will make 

 the best kind of top-dressing for fruit trees or other crops. 



