It is not contended that this more rapid growth is due to the fact 

 that dynamite is a fertilizer, but because the blasting makes the soil 

 thoroughly porous and mellow, and gives the tree roots an opportu- 

 nity to expand easily; also because the increased moisture-storage 

 capacity of the shattered soil forwards the development of the tree. 

 Therefore, the value of one or two years' crops must be added to the 

 cost of the original tree planting in spade-dug holes, or deducted from 

 the cost of preparing the holes with dynamite. This would more than 

 counterbalance the one to three cents per tree planting cost, which close 

 calculating orchardists regard as the difference between planting in the 

 old-fashioned way and planting with dynamite. 



Horticultural experts state that the average tree cannot thrive when 

 it is planted in a little spade-dug hole about the size of a large flower pot. 



The proper way to plant a tree with a spade is described in a paper 

 on tree culture read by a horticulturist at the meeting of the Kansas 

 State Horticultural Society, held in Topeka, Kansas, in December, 

 1909. The following are extracts from the paper : 



"The soil should be stirred as deep as it well can be, the deeper 

 the better. In digging your tree holes, forget that you are going to 

 plant a tree, and imagine you are going to bury the largest horse on 

 the place, and dig accordingly. Remember it is the last chance you 

 will have to loosen up that soil, so do a good job. Plant your trees 

 deep, getting the roots down where it never gets dry." 



One of the largest and most successful nurseries in the country 

 is that of the William H. Moon Company, of Morrisville, Pa. In 

 their book, entitled, "How to Plant a Tree," they say: "Holes must 

 be made so large that the roots may spread out naturally without 

 cramping." That means for one and two-year-old nursery stock a 

 hole at least 18 to 24 inches across and nearly as deep. When an in- 

 experienced fruit grower claims to be able to plant a tree for three 

 or four cents per hole, of course he tells the truth. He can; but he 

 can't plant it right for that cost. He can also build a house for $9.00, 

 but do you want that kind of a house ? 



To dig a hole as large as these experts advise, with ordinary tools, 

 would require much time and labor. Half a cartridge of dynamite will 

 loosen up the ground, and make it porous in an instant. 



Expert Advice From a Professor of Horticulture 

 Deep Rooted Trees Resist Drouth and Frost 



" I believe it is of fundamental importance to plant trees in soil loose and open enough, 

 and well enough drained so the roots can go down deep. For example, the peach trees in the 

 deep loam where they root deep blossom as early in spring as do shallow rooted peach trees in 

 adjacent clay soil. Those in the deep, mellow loam, however, will endure more cold and will 

 set full crops much more frequently than do these same varieties over a hard clay subsoil. 

 The trees mature better, apparently store up more sugars and other materials in their buds for 

 winter, and do not have their fruit buds killed at the same temperature as do trees on hard 

 clay subsoil. We have taken twigs in full bloom, surrounded them with a freezing chamber so 

 as to find out at just what temperature the bloom would be killed. Those growing in the deep 

 well-drained soil will sometimes endure as low as 26 degrees, or 6 degrees below freezing, with- 

 out the flowers being killed when in full bloom. Similar trees grown where they did not root 

 down well, would not endure drought of summer in as good health, due to the packed subsoil, 

 and often have their flowers killed at 28 to 29 degrees or about 3 degrees below the freezing 

 point of water." J. C. WRITTEN. 



Professor of Horticulture, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. 



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