36 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



cotton woods on the prairie from the seeds. The proper place is on the 

 sandy beach of the lake or river, where they sow themselves. The above- 

 named, and all other seeds, in fact, do best on a northern or eastern slope, 

 where the soil is moister, and the light and heat less intense. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL. 



Plow deep for all trees pulverize the soil fine, as for corn. If you plant 

 on newly broken or unsubdued soil, failure is certain on the prairie. All 

 seeds and plants have their inalienable rights to fitted soil, light, air, water 

 and culture. 



DEPTH OF COVERING, ETC. 



Covering too deep retards germination. Comparatively thin sowing 

 gives large, healthy trees. For maximum depths, 134 to 2% inches for 

 oaks and chestnuts; % .to an inch for maples, ash and box elder; 2 inches 

 for black locust; % of an inch for alder; }4 to 1 inch for spruce, Scotch 

 pine and larch; % of an inch for Austrian pine; birch and elm as thin as 

 possible to insure germination. Fall sowing maybe covered more heavily. 

 Have the earth cover above seed loose so that air and moisture can 

 readily penetrate to aid in dissolving the food materials in the seed. The 

 quicker the sprouting, the less danger to the seeds. Guard against hot air 

 and strong light. Keep the water supply at the roots, and the degree of 

 light and heat at the top properly balanced. Avoid too much water for 

 the plantlets; most plants are then liable to rot. 



SPRING- OR FALL PLANTING. 



If the ground is well supplied with moisture for the winter, it is quite 

 safe to plant seedlings in October, such as the box elder and ash. If the 

 fall season is dry, do not plant a tree till spring. Indeed, spring planting 

 should be the rule. 



HEELING-IN. 



Trees for spring planting had better be removed from their seed-beds in the 

 fall. They are then in their best condition, and it is wise to keep them 

 so, and not subject the young candidates to needless wintry perils. Select 

 a well-drained spot; dig a trench of suitable length and depth correspond- 

 ing to size of your trees. Throw the dirt up like a roof. Thin out the 

 plants side by side in the trench, their stalks lying impact on the slant. 

 Sprinkle the dirt among the roots fine; shovel on enough for another 

 ground-roof and another tier, and so on till all are buried. Press the earth 

 down gently. After the ground is well frozen, cover the tips with some 

 kind of litter. By spring the cuts and broken parts of the roots have 

 started to heal over, and you have gained so much time. Frozen plants 

 should be placed in a dark cellar, and the frost allowed to come out slowly. 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING. 



Trees one or two years old are more reliable for the field than older 

 and larger ones, and with proper management will soon outstrip the latter 

 in size and quality. Your soil must be all ready before you can unbury a 



