ORNAMENTAL AND SHADE TREES 



233 



in order to prevent decay, which may set in in due time. 

 The specimen which you sent shows the presence of the 

 ''bag worm," an insect which spends the winter in a 

 baglike covering and which emerges in the early sum- 

 mer and feeds on the foliage. You probably have not 

 noticed this bag worm, and I am, therefore, returning the 

 specimen so that you may see it. If these bag worms are 

 numerous on the trees it is a wise thing to remove and 

 destroy them at once before the mature caterpillar 

 emerges from those winter nests. 



O. We have just organized a shade tree commis- 

 sion in our city and would like to know what to do 

 next towards caring for our trees. H. C. U., Pa. 



A. Appoint a city forester or obtain the services of 

 a consulting arborist to make an inspection of the trees 

 and to prepare a detailed working plan for the first 

 year's work. He will soon be able to report on the number 

 and variety of trees growing and extent of work neces- 

 sary. He will point out the trees and branches that are 

 dangerous and should be removed at once. The con- 

 trol of insect pests, the protection of trees from muti- 

 lation by horses, etc., the need of planting new trees and 

 the kinds suitable, the incorporation of a street tree ordi- 

 nance, etc., will receive his further consideration. 



From his report you will be able to determine what 

 appropriation is absolutely urgent for the first year and 

 just how to organize the force of men that will take 

 care of your trees. 



ADVICE FOR APRIL 



SPRAYING 



Prepare for spraying campaign during .May and 

 June. It would be well to procure at an early date the 

 following chemicals in proportion varying with the 

 quantity of work to be done: Arsenate of Lead, Whale 

 Oil Soap, Bordeaux Mixture. 



PLANTING TREES 



This is the month for planting, and the following 

 suggestions on how to plant are of value: 



1. Plant when frost is out of the ground. 



2. Keep the roots well protected from the minute 

 the tree leaves the wagon or trench to the minute it is 

 planted. Do not take more plants from the wagon than 

 is absolutely necessary. 



3. Cut all broken roots and cover wounds with coal 

 tar. 



4. Cut back the branches, but do. not remove them 

 entirely unless they interfere or are too thick. With 

 some trees like the sycamore, oak or poplar, you can 

 cut back more than with the others. Do not cut the 

 leader, and do not cut evergreens. 



5. Let only good soil come in close contact with the 

 roots, and have the good soil well packed around the 

 roots ; work it in with the fingers and stamp on it. Place 

 the poor soil only on top. 



C. See that the tree is planted upright and firm. 



7. Plant the tree no deeper than it stood in the 

 nursery. 



8. Water the tree only after good soil has been put 

 around its roots and the hole filled. 



CARE OF TREES AND SHRUBS ON ARRIVAL 



Before the plants arrive, dig a trench from two to 

 four feet wide, one foot deep and long enough to hold 

 them all. 



As soon as the trees or shrubs arrive, untie them, 

 keeping each kind separate, and place the plants in the 

 trench temporarily until they can be set out in their 



proper places. Very carefully cover the roots with earth 

 and give a copious watering. In unpacking the plants, in 

 placing them in the trench, or at any other time, be care- 

 ful not to expose their roots, even for a moment, to sun 

 or wind, and at all times keep the roots moist. 



In case of evergreens, the slightest exposure is apt to 

 prove injurious. 



WHAT TO DO AFTER PLANTING 



1. It should be borne in mind that when a tree is 

 transplanted, no matter how carefully the work is done, 

 it is impossible to take up the entire root system, and, 

 therefore, before it is able to care for itself, new roots 

 must be formed to take hold of the soil. In the mean- 

 time, the moisture is being continually evaporated from 

 the trunk and branches by the action of the wind and 

 sun, and this must be balanced by an artificial supply. 

 During the dry spells and hot weather of the following 

 season, the soil around the base of the tree, for a space 

 wider than the hole, should be stirred up and watered. 

 WATERING DURING THE FIRST SUMMER IS 

 VERY ESSENTIAL AND MORE IMPORTANT 

 THAN WATERING DURING THE SUBSEQUENT 

 SUMMERS. The water should not be sufficient to 

 make the ground soggy. For a tree about 2 1 /. inches 

 in diameter, two pails of water applied twice a week is 

 enough. 



2. In the fall a layer of old manure 3 to 4 inches thick 

 should be spread over the surface around the tree to a 

 distance of a foot or two beyond the line of the newly 

 filled hole. This treatment will enrich the soil, shade the 

 ground and help to hold the moisture. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY FREE 



Have you friends who love trees, woodlands, forests? Send 

 their names and addresses to the American Forestry Association. 



A free copy of American Forestry will be sent them with 

 your compliments. Do it now before you forget. 



