XVII 



WHEN TO PLANT TREES IN THE FOREST 



THE time in which to plant trees is somewhat limited 

 and its selection necessarily largely depends upon conven- 

 ience and conditions. It must take place in the fall or early 

 spring, because trees cannot be safely removed during the 

 growing season, which occurs during spring and summer, 

 and it is impracticable to plant them in the winter when 

 the ground is frozen. Planting in the fall can be success- 

 fully accomplished with many species, especially with 

 the deciduous ones, but unless it is properly and care- 

 fully done it will not be as successful as spring planting. 

 The coniferous evergreens the Pines, Spruces, Firs, and 

 the like evaporate water from their leaves during winter 

 and thus make a greater demand upon the mutilated roots 

 for moisture than do the deciduous ones, and for that rea- 

 son fall planting of evergreens is not as successful as with 

 deciduous species. But if care is taken to place fine earth 

 in close contact with all roots, leaving no open spaces, and 

 the tree is placed a little deeper in the ground than it 

 originally stood, in order to counteract the tendency to be 

 thrown out by the frost, and the work is done early enough 

 for the ground to become settled and firm before winter 

 sets in, then fall planting of both evergreens and deciduous 

 trees, with chances in favor of the latter, will usually suc- 

 ceed. 



It is true that during the winter some effort is likely to 

 be put forth by the transplanted tree towards repairing 

 the injury that has been done to the roots when removed 

 from the nursery, providing the ground is not frozen too 

 hard ; but the great danger is that vacant spaces are left 

 around the roots, and if so those exposed will be killed and 



