STREET TREES. 49 



drenching the soil thoroughly and then mulching well if lack of 

 moisture and high winds are the causes of the trouble. Protection 

 from the wind by wrapping the trunk and large limbs with burlap or 

 some other protecting material is also desirable. 



After a liberal opening has been made in the specially prepared soil 

 the tree should bo brought, preferably from the city's own nursery 

 (fig. 32), but if such a nursery has not been provided-, then from 

 among the newly received trees that have been "heeled in," as already 

 described. 



If the tree has been well handled and the roots carefully protected 

 it is ready for setting. It is desirable to immerse the roots in a thin 

 mixture of clay and water just before putting it in the hole if there is 

 suspicion that the roots have been exposed. This can be done before 

 leaving the nursery or "heeling-in" ground, but the roots must be 

 properly protected. Any mutilated ends of roots should be removed, 

 the top should be severely pruned, as described later, and the tree 

 should be placed in the hole in line with the other trees (fig. 33, A) 

 and at such a height that after the filling is completed it will be about 

 an inch deeper in the ground than it was before transplanting. The 

 roots should be spread out in as near their original position as prac- 

 ticable, and soil should be carefully worked in about them with the 

 fingers, so that each rootlet may come in contact with soil and not 

 be crowded against other rootlets. When all the roots have been 

 placed and covered the soil should be thoroughly trampled or tamped 

 to bring the roots into as close contact as possible with it. Then 

 more soil should be put in and the ground again tamped. Of course, 

 in order to get satisfactory results the soil used for planting must not 

 be too wet or too dry. If the soil is in such a state as to hold together 

 in soggy masses and not spring apart again when squeezed in the 

 hand, it is too wet for planting. If the soil is too dry, it will not stay 

 in contact with the roots during the planting operations. A soil 

 that is too dry may be well watered a day or two in advance of the 

 planting, or if excessive dryness does not make it difficult to handle, 

 the tree may be planted and then be thoroughly watered. After the 

 watering 3 or 4 inches of loose soil should be spread over the wet 

 ground in order to prevent undue evaporation. It should not be 

 trampled or pounded in any way after the water is applied. If trees 

 planted in moist retentive soils are watered after planting they should 

 be provided with a mulch of similar earth. East of the Missouri 

 River trees planted in soil that is in good condition usually do not 

 need watering at the time of planting. 



Trees planted from pots, cans, or boxes should have the ball of 

 earth taken from the receptacle handled with care, so as not to 

 break it further than to loosen some of the roots on the outside of 

 the ball; then the soil should be as carefuUy placed about this ball 



