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trees from the nursery, much of the soil can be taken along with the 

 roots. Immediately on lifting the roots from the ground they should 

 be trimmed with a sharp knife wherever they are found to have been 

 bruised or broken. The lower part of the tap-root also should be cut 

 off to prevent its doubling up on being reset. Twelve or eighteen 

 inches is sufficiently long for the tap-root. Put the tree under shade 

 and cover the roots with wet moss as soon as possible. Do not allow 

 the fibrous roots to dry, as they are very delicate and soon perish. 

 Keep them protected up to the moment of setting, taking but one tree 

 at a time from its covering of moss. To insure still further against 

 damage to the tender roots, have on hand a half barrel of muck made 

 into a thin paste and as fast as the trees are lifted and the roots 

 trimmed, plunge the roots into this paste, take them out and wrap in 



moss. 



The holes for the trees should be freshly dug. The work of set- 

 ting is easily and rapidly done by three hands working together one to 

 dig the holes, one to prune and set the tree, and a third to fill in. The 

 holes should be dug in the shape of an inverted saucer or truncated 

 cone with about two inches of the top cut off. Proceed thus : Around 

 the stake which marks the place for the tap-root, with a shovel or hoe 

 take away the soil, letting the tool strike the top of the soil at the 

 stake and continue to dig deeper into the soil until at a distance of 

 eighteen inches from the stake it has penetrated six inches below the 

 surface. Proceed thus around the stake until it is completed. This 

 gives the greatest depth of the hole on the outer edge, or perimeter of 

 the circle. Now take up the stake, cut two inches of the top off the 

 cone. Where the stake stood, push down the spade by working it 

 back and forth until it has penetrated the ground about eighteen 

 inches, or the full length of the tap-root of the tree to be set. Now 

 insert the tap-root in this hole made by the spade. Be careful not to 

 set the tree deeper than it grew in the nursery. With the hand pack 

 the soil firmly around the tap-root. Next spread the lateral roots 

 over the cone, taking care to distribute them evenly over the cone. 

 Throw on two inc'hes of dirt and press it firmly with the feet. Finish 

 by throwing in soil and leveling the ground, leaving the last layer of 

 soil untrod. 



