18 ARBOR DAY. 



especially for all trees over one year old, and particularly 

 for those having a deep tap-root, naturally it is better to 

 sever this tap-root within a foot of the surface with a spud 

 (a broad chisel fitted to a handle) or with a narrow spade, 

 early in the spring prior to transplanting in autumn or the 

 following spring. This promotes the growth of a very 

 desirable root mass. (III.) Most carefully guard the 

 roots from any exposure, even of a few minutes to sun or 

 wind. Dipping them in a "mud porridge" as soon as 

 lifted helps much, if this coating be not allowed to get dry. 

 Keep them moist in moving, and if there is to be a day or 

 an hour's delay after arriving and unpacking, heel them in ; 

 that is, set them in a trench or opened ground, and cover 

 all the roots with soil until the last moment before plant- 

 ing. (IV.) Give the roots a deep and broad bed of good 

 soil to start and grow in a thing easily attained in nat- 

 urally poor, or clayey or sandy soil, by digging out a hole 

 of considerable dimensions, and filling in with soil from 

 elsewhere. A little care in this may manifold the future 

 growth and value of a tree. (V.) Spread out the roots 

 well and naturally, and set only a trifle deeper than they 

 grew before removal. There are only a few exceptions to 

 this rule. (VI.) Fill fine soil well in under and around 

 the roots, and firm it by pressure. (VII.) Unless the 

 soil is quite moist and the weather damp and cloudy, and 

 likely to be, before filling in the top earth pour in water 



