390 Hints on the Planting of Ornamental Trees. 



A tree is not a post, and will require room not only for the 

 roots which it already has, but for those which are to grow. 

 If there is much planting to do, and a gardener can be had, 

 he should be called in ; but if only a few, and the proper man 

 is not to be found, the inexperienced must proceed with the 

 work. When streets are made, all the loam is generally 

 carted off, and little is left except the hard gravel, sand or 

 clay. Of course, a tree will not thrive much in either of 

 these. When trees are to be planted in such places, a large 

 hole, six feet in diameter, should be dug, and eighteen inches 

 deep ; and to fill in around the roots, at least two thirds as 

 much good common earth should be procured as was thrown 

 out, the other third being filled in at the surface from the 

 best of that which was thrown out, unless clay. For want 

 of such good soil, hundreds of trees die before the end of the 

 second year. Fill in the earth so as to leave no crevices 

 among the roots, and finish the operation by gently treading 

 the surface. 



3. After-Treatment. — The trees may be good, and the 

 planting well done, but their growth will be just in propor- 

 tion to their subsequent care or neglect. Generally, they are 

 left to take care of themselves. But this should not be. 

 Every spring they should have the surface soil well dug, 

 (unless in a paved street,) for a space of two or more feet all 

 round the tree, and this space should be kept stirred two or 

 three times during the first and second seasons at least, — if 

 longer the better. They may also have some good manure 

 dug in, if it is convenient. For the want of such care the 

 surface of the ground becomes hard and almost impervious to 

 water, or is choked up with grass and weeds which drink up 

 all the moisture that should go to the roots of the trees. 

 Take two trees, treat the one as we advise and let the other 

 take care of itself ; you will soon see which makes the largest 

 tree. Our remarks, it will be seen, are mostly intended for 

 trees in streets or avenues ; as we shall suppose in pleasure- 

 grounds the whole surface would be kept dug, till the trees 

 had become established. 



These brief hints only in part cover the important subject 



