318 



THE GENESEE FARMEK, 



PLANTING TEEES, &c. | 



Many of our readers are no donbt expecting this 

 fall to plant fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, 

 &c., «&c. ; and a few words at this time, which we 

 shall say to you, may be of assistance to some who 

 have not had much expreience in dealing with trees. 



Taking it for gi-anted that those who have ordered 

 trees of traveling agents have satisfied themselves 

 tliat they are, through them, dealing with honora- 

 ble and responsible nursery firms, and not with 

 those who merely make it their business to buy 

 trees and vend them again, and who seldom visit 

 the same neighborhood twice, and are utterly irre- 

 sponsible; in the first place, when the trees are 

 delivered to you, examine them for yourselves, and 

 see if they are healthy and sound. This you will 

 have no trouble in determining. Any one can sat- 

 isfy hmiself of the condition a tree is in, if he will 

 attend to it. Is the bark sound and green ? — the 

 roots, when they are cut, are they of a clean lively 

 white ? If 60, your trees are alive ; and if other- 

 wise agreeing with the terms of your contract, 

 give the nurseryman you deal with the credit of 

 performing bis part, even should you afterward 

 lose them. At the time of delivery, the responsi- 

 bility of the nurseryman to you, in reference to 

 your purchase, ceases ; and failures after this time 

 you must attribute to yourself, your soil, climate, 

 or some other causes, and not blame the man that 

 has raised the trees. 



"We allude to this point now, because, nursery- 

 men are often reproached, and suflfer unjustly. 



If you reside in a very severe northern climate, 

 it may happen that before your trees reach you 

 they may have been exposed to frost. If so, let 

 them remain packed, and put them in a cellar where 

 they will gradually thaw out, and afterward plant or 

 heel them in. If by some delay on the route they 

 are somewhat dry, you need have no fears of losing 

 them ; they may be even so dry that their skin is 

 much shrivelled, and by burying tbem up com- 

 pletely, three or four inches uuder ground, in the 

 course of a week or ten days they will become as 

 fresh as if just dug. If you receive your trees ia 

 time, and have prepared land for them, plant as 

 soon as received ; but if the land is not in a suita- 

 ble condition, set them in the ground temporarily, 

 or " heel them in," as it is technically called, until 

 you have had time to thoroughly prepare your land 

 in the spring. 



Of the preparation of the soil for trees, wo do 

 not propose to speak, assuming that every one who 

 planta a tree, with the expectation of its living and 

 thriving, will see that his land is both rich and dry, 

 either natoraliy or artifioially, and well worked up. 



One remark is applicable to all our frui 

 deciduous ornamental trees, when about ' 

 planted. If you desire them to make a healtl) 

 vigorous growth, cut back all the limbs sct 

 Often you may even take off every limb and 

 to advantage, especially with apple, peach, and 

 trees. Cherry and pear trees, cut ofl:' every 

 within six or eight inches of the body. The b 

 of form of ornamental trees and shrubs ii 

 greatly promoted by this close pruning at the 

 If this operation is neglected, expect only the 

 results. The young tree, excited by the wj 

 of the spring-time sun, expands every bud 

 unfolds so large an extent of leaf-surface that 

 drop of sap is exhausted before the ground is 

 ciently warm to quicken the roots into acti 

 supply the waste which is going on. After 

 inches of wood has been made, growth en 

 ceases for the season ; and if left to itself this 

 of things often continues to exist a number of ; 

 We have watched trees — and have no doub 

 can call up similar instances — that actually app 

 to grow smaller, and, relatively to vigorously { 

 ing trees, this was true of them. The evi 

 have here spoken of is a great impediment to i 

 culture, and is the cause of a large proportii 

 •the failures of trees. Having properly prune 

 top of the tree, now examine the roots, and 

 wUl always find, to a greater or less extent, br 

 and bruised roots. Out off these injured 

 clean and smooth, and your tree is then in fit 

 dition to plant. 



In holes dug large enough to afford the 

 ample room, and to permit the tree to stau 

 deep or a trifle deeper than originally, placj 

 tree and fill in a few inches of fine soil, and 

 pour in a half pailful or so of water, and wori 

 roots about in the mud until it has settled i 

 about every part, when the remainder of the 

 may be filled in to the level of the ground. Ii 

 tree is left now, although what you have dont 

 been well done, many accidents may yet befi 

 The winds of fall, winter, and early spring, 

 usually fierce and destructive; before spring i 

 will have shaken it a thousand times to the exti 

 ity of every root, and perhaps caused it to n 

 itself loose in the ground, with a hole all an 

 the trunk, so that the roots have been part 

 frozen in this way. Every tree, therefore, as i 

 as planted, should be staked, so that there wil 

 no possibility of its being swayed by the wind 

 a mound of earth, one and a half or two feet, 

 be raised about the tree, which will answer 

 same purpose as the stake, and also prevent 



