106 HAND-BOOK OF TREE-PLANTING. 



fine but loose earth, in order that the air and 

 moisture may have ready access to the roots; 

 then, finally, cover the surface with a mulch of 

 some sort leaves, straw, tan-bark, chip-dirt, or 

 the like for the purpose of screening it from 

 the sun and wind, which would rob the roots 

 of their appropriate moisture by the rapid 

 evaporation which the former would occasion. 



If the ground is in proper condition, it 

 will seldom be necessary to apply water to 

 the trees when planting them. The nursery- 

 men make little use of water at such time. 

 To have the earth fine and simply moist, and 

 to have it brought into close contact with the 

 fibrous roots, is the important matter. A dash 

 of water, as the earth is being packed around 

 the roots, may assist, but unless care is used 

 the water may do more harm than good. 



Some may say this is an ideal method of 

 tree-planting, one that can not be carried out 

 in practice, or only in special cases and where 

 but a few trees are to be planted. It may 

 be that the forest-planter can not take all the 

 pains with his work that we have indicated as 

 desirable. But let him hold this ideal plant- 



