Setting the Plants. 245 



to get the soil thoroughly firmed in about the 

 roots which are straightened out in approximately 

 their natural position and especially under the crown 

 or fork of the roots, in order that no air-spaces 

 may be left to dry out. This dirt can be best placed 

 by fingering it in, moving the tree gently up and 

 down at the same time. Once or twice in the pro- 

 gress of filling the hole, the earth should be stamped 

 down. Fill the hole to a little more than level 

 full to carry off surface water, but be careful that 

 no hollows are left too close about the tree into 

 which water can settle, especially when planting in 

 the fall. Stamp or pound the earth very firmly 

 about the tree before leaving it, for the double pur- 

 pose of retaining moisture and of holding the tree 

 against winds. Small stuff, like nursery stock and 

 small-fruit plants, may often be well planted by 

 means of a dibber or spud. All this operation of 

 planting can proceed to perfection only when the 

 earth is dry enough to crumble. Stock cannot be 

 well planted in wet and sticky soil. 



If trees are set according to these directions, 

 and the tops are cut back as explained farther on, 

 there will rarely be any necessity for staking and 

 tying the trees to keep them plumb. 



Mulches of straw or manure are sometimes ad- 

 vised for newly set trees. For trees planted late in 

 spring and upon droughty soils, a light mulch about 

 the tree may be advised ; but in other cases it is 

 not. If mulches are applied to fall -planted trees, 

 care must be taken to tramp them down well, or 



