114 IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES 



than when they stood in the seed-bed. They should be care- 

 fully placed in the furrows and fine soil put over their roots 

 and well packed around them. Compacting the soil around 

 the roots is very essential, for without it failure is likely to 

 occur, even though rains should follow or watering be re- 

 sorted to. The soil should everywhere come in contact with 

 the roots. 



When the plants are taken from the seed-beds their roots 

 should be carefully protected and no delay be allowed be- 

 tween their removal and replacement in the ground. A few 

 minutes of hot sunshine, strong wind, or frost at this time 

 may be fatal. Cultivation of the transplant nursery, by 

 keeping down the weeds and loosening the surface of the 

 soil, adds to the vigor and growth of the plants the same as 

 with farm and garden crops and should be no more neglected 

 in one than in the other. 



Notwithstanding that full instructions for growing plants 

 have thus been given, and success can be achieved by 

 following them, any one desiring to plant but a few 

 hundred, or even a few thousand, will probably find it to 

 his advantage to purchase the stock instead of growing it ; 

 largely for the reason that by so doing he will save at least 

 three years' time. In some of the states the residents there- 

 of can now secure plants of the state's forestry department 

 at actual cost of production, and printed instructions for 

 planting them will be furnished ; or, if requested, an expert 

 will be sent to direct the work, the applicant for such serv- 

 ice defraying only traveling and other like expenses. At 

 least this is true of New York and Pennsylvania, and should 

 be of all other states. In fact the state can well afford to 

 furnish plants gratis to all who will plant and obligate 

 themselves to care for them properly. Many of the states 

 are furnishing fish-fry free of all charges to place in the 

 streams of the state, and certainly trees are of enough im- 

 portance to be placed on a parity with fish. 



