The Tree The Memorial That Lives 



not already among the everyday tools of the planter. 

 In order to do the planting properly an equipment of 

 tools in addition to the pruning shears is necessary. This 

 equipment would properly consist of a spade for exca- 

 vating the hole, a pointed stick such as a rake handle for 



TREES, DECIDUOUS AND EVERGREEN, MAY BE GROUPED ON THE LAWN 



filling the soil in around the branches of the roots, and 

 a tamper to firm the earth. Where the ground is firm 

 and hard a pick and a shovel may be added to the outfit. 

 When the soil is very dry and the weather quite warm, it 

 is well to have some receptacle such as a barrel, 

 half filled with a mixture of water and earth, in 

 which the roots of the tree may be puddled before 

 placing in the excavation made recently for them. 



Planting the Trees. 



The two normal seasons for planting decidu- 

 ous trees are spring and fall. The advocates for 

 either season have many arguments to advance 

 on the success of their operations ; but as a rule 

 it is safe to say that all trees except the ever- 

 greens may be planted at any time during the 

 dormant period it is possible to work the soil, 

 i. e., when not frozen. This period begins with 

 the dropping of the foliage in the autumn and 

 ends when the buds burst open in the spring. The 

 inexperienced planter will find the early spring 

 the better for tree planting in the northern states. 

 Evergreens are usually planted in late spring and 

 during the latter part of August and the first part 

 of September. If large balls of earth are secured 

 intact around the roots, evergreens may be planted suc- 

 cessfully at times earlier and later than the above seasons. 

 The day to select, where this is possible, is a cool, cloudy 

 one. On other days greater care must be devoted to the 



details of planting to prevent the drying out of the roots 

 through the necessary handling of the plants. 



The size and shape of the excavation for the individual 

 trees should be large enough in width and length to 

 receive the roots of the tree extended in their natural 

 positions. The depth of the hole should be more 

 than enough to receive the roots in the same 

 manner. There should be space for a layer of 

 six inches of good loam before the roots are 

 placed in the hole. Then when the "top soil" 

 is carefully worked among the fine roots the 

 tree should be three inches lower than it was 

 in its nursery or woodland situation. In work- 

 ing the soil around the roots no air spaces should 

 be left when the tree is finally planted. In other 

 words the soil should be firmly and carefully 

 packed with the pointed stick and the tamper so 

 that the tree can not be shaken from its posi- 

 tion. A popular and excellent way to get the 

 soil properly around and among the roots is to 

 soak the soil in the excavation. 



The spacing of trees is something that can not 

 be governed by fixed rules. Street trees may be 

 placed from thirty to eighty feet apart, depend- 

 ing upon the variety used. Catalpa and lombardy poplars, 

 which are not very commendable for street use, may be 

 planted at the minimum distance given above while 

 sycamore and elm would require the maximum distance. 



LOMBARDY POPLARS PLANTED BETWEEN MORE PERMANENT OAKS ARE 



ATTRACTIVE 



For lawn planting in groups the trees may be placed as 

 near each other as ten feet. For windbreak planting the 

 individual trees are from four to six feet apart. For 

 all purposes other than along streets it is better to plant 



Register Your Memorial Trees In the National Honor Roll of the 



American Forestry Association. 



