WHAT TREES TO PLANT AND HOW 129 



Quality of trees: Trees grown in a nursery are 

 preferable for transplanting to trees grown in the forest. 

 Nursery-grown trees possess a well-developed root system 

 with numerous fibrous rootlets, a straight stem, a sym- 

 metrical crown, and a well-defined leader. Trees grown in 

 neighboring nurseries are preferable to those grown at 

 great distances, because they will be better adapted to local 

 climatic and soil conditions. The short distances over 

 which they must be transported also will entail less danger 

 to the roots through drying. For lawn planting, the 

 branches should reach low to the ground, while for street 

 purposes the branches should start at about seven feet 

 from the ground. For street planting, it is also important 

 that the stem should be perfectly straight and about two 

 inches in diameter. For woodland planting, the form of 

 the tree is of minor consideration, though it is well to have 

 the leader well defined here as well as in the other cases. 

 See Fig. 95. 



When and how to procure the trees: The trees should 

 be selected in the nursery personally. Some persons prefer 

 to seal the more valuable specimens with leaden seals. Fall 

 is the best time to make the selection, because at that time 

 one can have a wider choice of material. Selecting thus 

 early will also prevent delay in delivery at the time when 

 it is desired to plant. 



When to plant: The best time to plant trees is early 

 spring, just before growth begins, and after the frost is 

 out of the ground. From the latter part of March to the 

 early part of May is generally the planting period in the 

 Eastern States. 



Where one has to plant both coniferous and deciduous 

 trees, it is best to get the deciduous in first, and then the 

 conifers. 



