108 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



growing trees to alternate with one of the kinds named as de- 

 sirable, with the expectation of cutting out the less valuable 

 when it shall have commenced to crowd the more desirable 

 kinds. 



Planting. Provided the soil is in the proper condition, the 

 next consideration is the proper planting of the tree. The 

 preparation for this should consist in digging a hole of suf- 

 ficient size to take in the roots without crowding. If the subsoil 

 is very solid clay it should be thoroughly loosened up, and 

 where practicable it is a good plan to dig a trench to the loose 

 soil over a water pipe or sewer, for by this means the roots 

 get into loose soil and drainage is secure which is often much 

 needed on such land. Sometimes a very stiff hard-pan can be 

 broken up to advantage by exploding a small dynamite' cart- 

 ridge in a deep hole made with a crow-bar. 



Before setting the tree, it should have all broken and dead 

 roots cut off. It should then be set an inch or two deeper 

 than it had been growing, the discoloration above the 

 roots indicating the depth at which it had stood. If, how- 

 ever, good drainage cannot be secured, the tree can be planted 

 less deeply, and then have a mound made around it. Fill in 

 about the roots slowly, being careful (should the tree have a 

 great number of fibrous roots ) to work the earth well in among 

 them and under the butt of the tree. Fine soil free from large 

 stones should be used for this purpose. Pack the soil in firmly, 

 if reasonably dry, with the heels or better still with a rammer, 

 making it as solid as possible around the roots. The object 

 in doing this is to leave no air spaces about them. It is not 

 a good plan to put water into the hole before the tree is set 

 but it may be put in when the roots are just covered and al- 

 lowed to soak away before the remaining soil is put in. As 

 a rule, however, little is gained by watering if the trees have 

 not leafed out and the moist soil is packed firmly around the 

 roots. Water is most needed after growth starts. 



Mulching. Newly planted street trees are much helped by 

 a mulch of straw, hay, or well-rotted manure; the latter is 

 best as it also furnishes plant food, but hot manure is liable 

 to injure the trunk if piled against it. These materials pre- 

 vent the soil from drying out and this is especially beneficial 

 if the trees are artificially watered. 



Watering should be done thoroughly or not at all. One 



