EVERGREENS FOR HEDGES. 59 



in August is entirely given up. It resulted in a loss 

 of a large proportion of all that were planted. Why 

 the hobby ever found so general acceptance is diffi- 

 cult of explanation. Set your plants early in April, 

 and plant them precisely as you do deciduous trees 

 only with extra precautions. When I say April 

 I mean for the sections of country running from 

 Boston westward. 



(b) Before digging your trees, have your 

 trenches dug for planting them. These should be 

 of ample width, probably three feet will never be too 

 wide for the trench, and two feet in depth. Let the 

 bottom be filled with loose earth and then puddled, 

 that is, thoroughly soaked with water. When set- 

 ting, wet down the roots constantly, and thoroughly 

 puddle each tree as it is planted. This is the impor- 

 tant point with evergreens, that they be thoroughlv 

 puddled. It is, however, equally important that the 

 plants be handled right in digging. The roots of 

 an evergreen should never be exposed to the sun, or 

 the wind, or allowed to get dry. Wrap the roots as 

 soon as out of the ground with wet straw or matting 

 or old cloth. Keep these well wetted until you reach 

 your planting ground. Then, if not to be imme- 

 diately put into the soil, puddle the roots by thrust- 

 ing them into a tank or pond or brook. Keep them 

 here until you are ready to plant them, drawing them 

 out one by one. It is necessary to add that if the 

 soil be exceedingly solid and retentive, drainage 

 should be prepared beforehand. This may be accom- 

 plished by tile drains or a series of tile drains. If 

 the hedge be a straight one, I should be inclined to 

 run a drain parallel, and within a few feet through 



