DECORATION OF HOME GROUNDS 85 



fine fibrous roots have extended further from the trunk 

 each year so as many fibrous roots will not be obtained 

 as we find upon trees from the nursery that have grown 

 more quickly. Yet by digging carefully and heading 

 back severely most of them will grow and make good 

 trees. In digging trees from these natural locations a 

 trench should be cut a foot wide from one to two feet 

 away from the trunk and deep enough to work the soil 

 out from under the ends of the roots and thus allow us 

 to tip the tree over by taking hold of the trunk, in this 

 way loosening the roots with a ball of earth attached. 

 This ball may be rolled out upon a stoneboat, or put 

 upon a low wagon, and the tree in this condition taken 

 to the place of planting. In planting trees of all kinds it 

 is as important to have a fine mellow bed of rich soil in 

 which to set them as for planting seeds. A hole a little 

 larger than the spread of the roots should be dug from 

 one to two feet deep, according to the roots. The soil 

 in the bottom of the holes should be rich, fine and mel- 

 low, but rank unfermented manure or caustic fertilizers 

 should not be used in contact with the roots. When 

 ready to plant place the tree in the hole, which if not 

 deep enough must be made deeper or if too deep filled 

 up. When at the proper level, so that all the roots will 

 be covered, the upper ones not less than six inches deep, 

 work fine rich soil in about them and press it firmly in 

 contact with every root and fibre. When all the roots 

 are covered and the soil pressed about them the last four 

 to six inches of soil should be put on lightly, thus form- 

 ing a mulch which will hold the moisture under it and 

 in contact with the roots below. The tops of all trees 

 taken from the roadsides or fields must be more severely 

 pruned than those procured from nurseries. 



