ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 355 



NEW YORK STATE PROGRAM, 1889. 



Method in planting: a tree. I. Holes are best made before the trees are 

 brought to the ground. They should be a little deeper than the depth of the 

 root-system, but twice as large around as seems necessary, to facilitate pene- 

 tration of rains and development of rootlets through the loosened soil. Place 

 the top soil, which is better (being richer in easily assimilated plant food) to 

 one side, the raw soil from the bottom to the other side; in filling back bring 

 the richer soil to the bottom. If it be practicable, improve a heavy loamy soil 

 by adding to and mixing with it looser sand) r soil, or a loose poor soil by en- 

 riching it with loam or compost. Keep all stones out of the bottom ; they 

 may be used above the roots, or better on the surface. Providing proper 

 drainage is the best means of improving ground for tree planting. Use no 

 manure except as a top dressing. 



2. Planting is best done by two or three persons. A. who manipulates the tree, is 

 the planter and responsible for the result ; B and C do the spading under his 

 direction. A places the tree in the hole, to ascertain whether this is of proper 

 size ; a board or stick laid across the hole aids in judging the depth. Trees 

 should not be set deeper than they stood before, except in loose, poor soil. 

 More trees are killed by too deep planting than the reverse. If the root-sys- 

 tem is developed sideways but not centrally, as is often the case, a hill is raised 

 in the hole to fill out the hollow space in the root-system, and the earth of the 

 hill is patted down with the spade. When the hole is in proper order, A holds 

 the tree perpendicularly in the middle of the hole, with the side bearing the 

 fullest branches toward the south or south-west, for better protection of the 

 shaft against the sun. B and C spread the roots into a natural position, then 

 fill in the soil, using the good soil first small spadefuls deliberately thrown 

 over the roots in all directions while A. by a slight shaking and pumping up 

 and down of the stem, aids the earth in settling around the rootlets. A close 

 contact of the soil with the rootlets is the secret of success in planting. Only 

 fine mellow soil, not too moist, and free from stones, will permit such close ad- 

 justment to the rootlets, which should also be aided by hand and fingers filling 

 in every crevice. A, while setting the tree, must exercise care to keep it in 

 proper position and perpendicular, until the soil is packed so as to keep the 

 tree in place ; then B and C rapidly fill the holes, A treading down the soil 

 firmly after a sufficient quantity is filled in, finishing off a little above the gen- 

 eral level to allow for settling, and finally placing the stones or any mulching 

 around the stem. 



Watering. The practice of 'using water while planting can hardly be said to 

 be a good one, unless the water is very carefully applied with a " rose " after 

 the soil is well filled in and packed around the fibrous roots. Especially with 

 a soil which has a tendency to clog, there is great danger of an uneven distri- 

 bution and settling, with consequent empty spaces between the roots. More 

 trees are probably killed by too much water in. transplanting than by too little. 

 Water after the transplanting (and perhaps before the last shovels of earth are 

 filled in) especially if the soil was dry, is useful and should be applied during 

 the hot season, choosing the late afternoon or evening for applying it. 



After care. Any mulch of waste material, hay, straw, or better, wood shav- 

 ings or chips, sawdust, or even stones simply placed around the foot of the 

 tree, is of excellent service in checking evaporation. 



Keeping the ground free from weeds and grass, and preventing it from bak- 

 ing, by occasionally hoeing and raking, is advisable. To prevent the trees from 

 being swayed by the wind, if of larger size, they should be staked firmly; a 

 loose post is worse than none. The tying should be so done as not to cut or 

 injure the tree ; a tree-box insures more safety against accidents. With the 

 development of the crown it becomes necessary to trim it, so as to carry the 

 top above reach. Trees are not benefited by being used for hitching-posts, or 

 climbing poles, or other frolic. 



