TREATMENT OF YOUNG TREES }Q9 



TAKING TREES FROM THE NURSERY 



Trees should be carefully taken from the nursery rows so as to 

 obtain a good amount of small branching roots. In lifting from the 

 home nursery, digging with well-sharpened spades, which will sever 

 the long roots cleanly, is perhaps the best method. In the large 

 nurseries tree-diggers are generally used. They have two revolving 

 coulters, which cut through the surface soil each side of the trees, 

 and a sharp, curved blade, which is drawn through the ground under 

 the trees, loosening the soil and severing the long roots cleanly. 

 The tree is then easily lifted, and has generally a much better root 

 system than by the old style of "ploughing out," which broke off 

 so many of the small roots and lacerated the larger ones. Whether 

 the taproot should be retained or not is not worth discussing on 

 theoretical grounds. As a matter of fact and practice, the taproot 

 cuts no figure at all in California orchard planting, although the 

 discussion of the question was formerly very warm in this State, 

 and is still occasionally heard. It is important, however, that' the 

 planter should have as many small lateral roots as he can get. The 

 small fibrous roots are usually of little account, as they seldom sur- 

 vive transplanting, and it is better to clip them away, if the time 

 can be afforded, as they often prevent the proper close contact of 

 the soil with the larger roots. Cutting back all roots to short stubs 

 at the base of the stem has succeeded in some instances in California 

 on moist low lands, but longer roots are far safer in the deep drying 

 of the surface layer which is to be expected in this State. 



The roots, after lifting, should not be permitted to dry. Hence, 

 in hauling from the nursery to the farm, the trees should be well 

 covered with wet straw and old sacks, or, if shipped from the nur- 

 sery to distant points, should be well packed. The best way to pack 

 trees is, undoubtedly, to box them in with wet straw, but it costs 

 less and they usually carry well considerable distances if carefully 

 bundled with tules (dry reed stems), the roots packed in wet straw, 

 and the packing and covering bound down tight with ropes to 

 prevent drying out. 



Attention should be paid to hauling away trees from the railway 

 stations as soon as possible after arrival. It is not uncommon for 

 shipments to lie on the station platforms for days, often when a 

 desiccating north wind is blowing. Such treatment soon takes the 

 life out of the rootlets, and often, no doubt, the nurseryman is 

 blamed for failure of trees which have suffered some such neglect 

 as this, either from transportation companies or from the purchasers. 



Heeling In. On arrival at the farms, trees should be "heeled in" 

 as soon as possible; even if it is the intention to plant at once, heel 

 them in just the same, for delays arise often in the most unexpected 

 manner. To heel in, dig a trench or plow a deep furrow, or a double 

 furrow, in light, moist, but well-drained soil ; put in the trees singly 



