52 PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS UPON TREE-PLANTING. 



t ion of the roots), fill in the earth around the plant, crowding it down as it fills np, and 

 I>r?ss it down with the feet. The operation thus described would be called well done, 

 it' executed carefully and without slighting. But as we turn in and press down the 

 earth, the radicles are crowded together in a vertical direction, like the rods of an um- 

 brella when shut, instead of being in a natural position, and more or less plants will 

 be lost. 



My plan would be as follows : 



Having thowu out the dirt, I would put about half of it back, so as to make a slope 

 on one side, against which I would lay the plant, the roots being of the same depth 

 as before being drawn. In this position it is easy with either baud to spread out the 

 radicles, and finish by filling the hole and pressing iu the earth, as commonly done. 

 Pjautatious thus executed in 1859 appear now sensibly better than those iu adjacent 

 ;;rounds, executed at the same time and iu the common way. But in this case the 

 iilants were buried deeper than the rule prescribes, and to this may be due a part of 

 the success. 



In deciduous plantations it is a rule to trim the young plants more or less, so as to 

 preserve a due balance between the roots, torn and lessened by the extraction, and the 

 top. Resinous species should never be subjected to this opera.tiou, but they generally 

 shed more or less of the lower leaves, which amounts to the same thing, and leave only 

 a tuft of small branches and leaves at the top, exposed to the winds and the weight of 

 scows, which are most liable to injury the first winter. 



It therefore appears probable that a young plant would suffer less to have these 

 lower leaves buried, than to lose them by drying iu the air, and that planting a little 

 deeper is beneficial — rules to the contrary. 



Ou the other hand, if we plant young oaks in autumn, some vertically and others 

 horizontally (it might not be the same iu spring, and I give my own experiences), it 

 docs not appear to show any difierence. It aiipears chiefiy important that the plants 

 belaid deep enough, while by the oblique method the roots are most easily placed 

 somewhat in their first position. 



As to expense in planting, the difference of time is from 15 to 20 per cent, in favor of 

 the method recommended, which has moreover a decided advantage of not being so 

 liable to damage from the heaving of irost. 



I do not hesitate to recommend the burying of more of the stem than was covered 

 before, the proportion extending to two-thirds or more. 



PLANTATION OF EVERGREENS — PROFESSOR AMOS EATON'S DIRECTIONS. 



Prof. Amos Eaton, in his Geological and Agricultural Survey of Rens- 

 selaer County, New York (182U), alluding to the difficulty of trausplaut- 

 icg evergreens, attaches importance to the most carei'ul handling and 

 to the keeping of the roots moist by retaining the soil upon them, or 

 covering with wet moss, cloths, &o. They succeeded best, according to 

 his observation, when the roots were not bent or distorted in planting. 

 Tiiey should be cut off at a distance of one or two feet from the stem, 

 and taken up without force or without wounding the body or limbs. 

 He laid down the rule of never cutting off a limb until at least a year 

 alter transplanting, and of never pruning evergreens at first close to 

 the stem. He would leave four or five inches, which, after it had with- 

 ered and died, might be cut close without injury to the wounded part, 

 wliich should be covered with some kind of adhesive paste. 



In selecting evergreens from the woods, care should be taken to obtain 

 only those that grew iu open and exposed situations, and, as nearly as 

 might be, from a soil in composition, texture, and dryness as nearly as 

 possible like that to which it is to be transferred. 



Deciduous forest-trees required less care, excepting oak, walnut, and 

 ash trees, which required the same treatment as evergreens. 



EVERGREEN PLANTING IN ILLINOIS AND IOWA. 



Mr. Samuel Edwards, formerly of Mendota, 111., who has had an ex- 

 tensive experience in planting evergreens, states his belief that the sur- 



