18 ACJUCULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. 



While this rule applies to all trees, success in planting conifers partic- 

 ularly depends on keeping the roots moist. Most nursery dealers will 

 ship coniferous trees only with balls of earth and well wrapped in bur- 

 lap. In general the roots may be kept moist by covering them with 

 wet burlap or moss; small seedlings may have their roots immersed in 

 a bucket of water or thin mud. To avoid delay the planting site should, 

 of course, be prepared in advance of the planting. The conditions under 

 which the planting is to be done should determine the kind and size 

 of trees used. Street and yard trees may be larger and of wider variety 

 than those for windbreak or woodlot planting. 



STREET AND YARD TREES. 



On city streets use stock that has been transplanted one or more times. 

 Such trees are better able to stand removal to the unfavorable surround- 

 ings usually found on city streets. Trees having a diameter of one and 

 one-half to two inches one foot from the ground are best, since they 

 are not too large to readily establish themselves and yet are large enough 

 to insure satisfactory development after planting. They should have 

 straight stems and be free from forks and crooks. The height at which 

 the crown should begin depends upon the traffic where the tree is 

 planted; eight feet is usually considered standard. The tree should be 

 free from disease, insects and wounds. 



The size of .the openings in which the trees* are to be planted depends 

 on the size of the trees and the character of the soil in the planting site. 

 The hole should afford ample growing space to allow the roots to spread. 

 In compact, clayey soils the opening is necessarily larger than would be 

 required in loose, porous soils. A good rule is to make the tree pit at 

 least twice as wide and twice as deep as the root system of the tree to 

 be planted. In some cities, where tree planting is carried on systemat- 

 ically, the openings are made six feet long, three feet wide and three 

 feet deep. To furnish food for the young tree during the early stages 

 of its growth enough fresh, new soil to half fill the tree pit should be 

 on hand before the planting. 



In order to preserve the necessary balance between the roots and the 

 crown the young tree should be pruned before setting and all bruised 

 and broken parts removed from the roots. Use sharp tools in pruning, 

 as ragged wounds are slow to heal and cut side branches directly above 

 strong, healthy buds. The roots of the tree, arranged in their natural 

 position, are placed in contact with the new soil which has previously 

 been spread in the bottom of the pit. With the tree held upright in 

 the pit the rest of the new soil is thrown in around the roots and tamped 

 closely and firmly about them. No air spaces should be left around 

 the roots and no leaves, twigs or other vegetable matter should come 

 in contact with them. The remaining soil is then thrown into the pit 

 and tamped frequently, but the final layer of soil should be left loose 

 to act as a mulch. As each layer of soil is tamped during the planting 

 it should be moistened but not made too wet. 



A stake, or, better still, two of them, should be set alongside the 



