92 Forests and Trees 



Cuttings should never be allowed to lie around and dry 

 out. If they are to be kept for any time they should be 

 buried in moist soil, and it is always advisable to soak 

 them well before planting. Moisture is the first essential 

 in getting a good percentage of cuttings to root. In plant- 

 ing they should not be forced into the ground, but should 

 either have a hole made for them or be leaned against the 

 side of an open trench or furrow, the soil filled in about them 

 and thoroughly packed. It is very essential that the soil 

 be packed firmly against every part of the cutting. It is 

 best to plant them on a slant, for then tramping the ground 

 above them will pack it firmly. If they are placed ver- 

 tically, the soil is often packed about the cutting only at 

 the surface, leaving cavities lower down. They should 

 also be planted deeply enough to secure a good moisture 

 supply, and only a single bud should be left above the sur- 

 face. An inch or an inch and a half is all that should ap- 

 pear. The soil should be well tilled and moist. When 

 cuttings are being planted in large numbers they may be 

 put six inches apart. When the young plants are large 

 enough to crowd they should then be transplanted, giving 

 them more room, just as would be done with seedlings. 



The first essential in the care of growing trees is cultiva- 

 tion of the soil around them. This is much better than 

 frequent watering. In a climate where the rainfall is 

 plentiful they should require no watering, and, even in 

 the prairie provinces where precipitation is normally low, 

 they should need it only once in a while when the season 

 is unusually dry. When watering is necessary some soil 



