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BULLETIN 816, XJ. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



When taking trees from the ground where they have been heeled 

 in to the place for planting, great care must also be exercised to see 

 that the roots are not exposed to sun or wind, but are kept closely 

 covered with moss, wet burlap, or canvas until planted. Lack of 

 care in this matter is a greater cause of loss in tree planting than care- 

 lessness in any other particular. One city that has its own nursery 

 and uses largely trees that are supposed to be difficult to move, but 

 is careful about not exposing the roots for a moment (fig. 31), has a loss 

 of less than 1 per cent. If the roots once dry the trees will die, :and: 

 it takes but a short exposure to dry the roots. The holes should be 



P20350HP 



Fig. 31.— a load of trees and tree boxes. The roots are packed in wet moss and a tree is not taken 

 from the wagon mitil the planter and two shovelers are at the hole where it is to be planted. 



prepared well in advance of planting, so that no time will be lost 

 when conditions are right for putting the trees in the ground. 



In regions 1, 10, 11, 12, and 13 (fig. 17) the best time for planting 

 deciduous street trees is the month or six weeks just preceding 

 freezing weather in the fall. The other desirable time for planting 

 is as soon after freezing weather is over in the spring as the ground 

 is dry enough for the mechanical operations. This should be as early 

 as possible, as the more opportunity there is for root growth before 

 warm weather forces the top into growth, the better the results are 

 likely to be. In regions 6, 8, and 9, where the ground freezes to a 

 considerable depth, spring planting is to be preferred to fall planting 

 unless it is possible to drench the soil thoroughly for a considerable 

 distance around the trees at planting time and after that to mulch 



