PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS ON THE DRY FARM 85 



ing. Trees planted in a shriveled condition are seldom able to revive, 

 while the same trees freshened in soil or in water may make a suc- 

 cessful growth. 



SEASON TO PLANT. 



Under Montana conditions, trees and shrubs should be planted 

 in early spring, as soon as the native vegetation starts. The young 

 plant must start growth on the food material stored up in its root, 

 trunk and branches. If the planting is delayed until the plants have 

 leafed out, this leaf surface generally dries up and food used in pro- 

 ducing it is lost. With its supply of food diminished in this manner, 

 the plant has its chances for surviving reduced proportionally. 



HOW TO PLANT. 



Before setting the plants in the ground, trim off all broken ends 

 of roots, and if any roots are exceptionally long, cut them back to 

 six or eight inches in length. Handle the trees carefully to avoid 

 drying the roots. A good way is to haul them to the field in a barreJ 

 with enough water to cover the roots. Take them from the L^rei 

 as they are to be planted. 



To plant forest tree seedlings or small hedge plants, push the 

 blade of the spade down into the ground and work it back and forth 

 until the roots of the tree may be slipped down behind it. Remove 

 the spade and tramp the soil well down about the roots. If a little 

 water may be poured into the hole before the soil is pressed back 

 about the roots, so much the better. In either case, after the tree is 

 planted and the soil is well packed about the roots, see that the sur- 

 face soil is loose enough to prevent rapid loss of moisture. 



It will pay to plant the fruit trees, shade trees, and shrubs with 

 a little more care. Dig a good hole and spread the roots out well. In 

 all cases set the plants three or four inches deeper than they stood 

 in the nursery. The tops should be pruned after the trees and shrubs 

 are set. Cut the forest tree seedlings back to within a foot or even 

 six inches of the ground. Prune the shrubs and small fruit plants 

 the same way. If one-year-old fruit trees are set out, cut the whip 

 off two feet above the ground. If two-year-old trees are set, thin out 

 the branches to four or five, leaving those that are spaced as far 

 apart as possible, and cut these back to within six inches of the trunk. 



