48 PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS UPON TBEE-PLANTING. 



and almost entirely covered with earth. He thinks the ground should be 

 prepared iu the fall and exposed to the action of the frost. He would 

 plow deep, dig the holes in the fall, and preferred for planting two years 

 old. 



Governor Furnas had, until recently, advised spring planting entirely, 

 but, as he has had more experience in fall planting, was becoming favor- 

 ably impressed with the latter. Cuttings should always be made in the 

 fall, that they might callous. This would be the case with the roots of 

 the trees. Where broken they would callous and start first, before the 

 leaves, which should always be the case. There was always more time 

 at that season for the work. 



Mr. Gregg had found that trees he had planted in the fall did well. 

 He commenced planting early, as soon as the terminal bud was hard- 

 ened, and stripped off the leaves before moving the tree. He advised 

 root-pruning iu the fall, if ever, and mulchiug with straw or litter. 



Mr. Mason had planted 2,500 ash in the fall ; did not lose 4 per cent.; 

 favored thorough working of the ground; and procured trees of home 

 nurseries, and planting the same day. He urged careful handling, and 

 cautioned planters in strong terms to beware of the tree-peddler. He 

 offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted : 



liesohed, That the State Historical Society recommend to those plantiug orchards to 

 purchase trees from the nearest nursery, and, if practicable, prepare the ground care- 

 fully in the fall, by deep ploughing, and take up trees and set them the same day. 



Mr. Brewster had planted an orchard of trees from Illinois and taken 

 special pains, but lost 60 per cent. Last spring he had set all Nebraska- 

 grown trees, with the best of su'^cess. 



Governor Saunders had best success when quick planting was adopted. 

 As soon as a tree was dug, puddle the roots, and by that means prevent 

 their drying. 



Tree planting in Nebraska. — Mr. J. T. Allan, then president of the Ne- 

 braska State Horticultural Society, in a report to the legislature, in 1874, 

 estimates, from reports received, that twelve million forest and one mill- 

 ion of fruit trees had been planted in that State in the spring of 1874. 

 A law was much needed requiring precinct assessors to collect statistics 

 upon this and other subjects of practical industries. 



Nebraska was the first State in which an J. r6or-i)«?/ was appointed, and 

 the idea thus suggested has since been favorably received in Iowa, Min- 

 nesota, and elsewhere. 



EVERGREEN-PLANTINa IN NEBRASKA. 



As to the proper season for plantiug evergreens, the author of an arti- 

 cle in the Fourth Keport of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture 

 (p. 440) remarks : 



The exact time when evergreens should be moved has excited much discussion, and 

 there is a vride difference of opinion as to the proper season. My experience, after re- 

 peated trials, is that jnst when the buds first begin to swell in the spring is the time ; 

 ■while those removed after they have grown an inch were mostly failures. While a 

 deciduous tree, when planted, is without leaves, an evergreen has an abundance of foli- 

 age to give oil' evaporation. Just at the time mentioned the spongioles have com- 

 menced vigorous action; the resinous sap is thinned, and w^hat is needed to secure a 

 new growth is careful handling ; see that the earth, which should be in close contact 

 with the roots, is finely pulverised, and avoid by all means giving too much water. To 

 insure the growth of any tree a certain amount of warmth in the soil is necessary. This 

 cannot be found when the plantiug is done early in the spring, and in consequence the 

 libers lose their vitality and are unable to draw the required nourishment. Advautage 

 should bo taken of cloudy days, when both roots and tops are not exposed to the hot 

 sun or drying winds, and, if the ground is moist, sufficient water only is needed to set- 

 tle the earth about the roots, and then mulching to some distance around the tree will 

 retain the moisture and keep down weeds. 



