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advantage over those on unprepared as has corn under the same con- 

 ditions. 



Where to Procure Seedlings. — The farmer may grow his own trees 

 from seed, procure wild seedlings or purchase from a nursery. Wherever 

 possible wild seedlings are much cheaper. They are weaker than nursery 

 grown stock, and should be transplanted to a nursery for one or two years 

 before being planted in the field. 



Care of Trees Before Field Planting. — Trees should be planted with 

 as little exposure of their roots as possible, for the root hairs, upon which 

 the tree depends for taking in its food supply, will dry out and shrivel 

 up when exposed to dry atmosphere for even a few minutes. Some of 

 the broad-leaved species can withstand this drying out if they receive 

 proper treatment afterwards. The best way to prevent this is by "pud- 

 dling." A "puddle"' is a mixture of earth and water about as thick as 

 cream. It may be mixed in buckets, tubs or barrels and drawn along 

 where trees are being dug up so they can be plunged into it immediately, 

 or, if the seedlings have been received from a nursery, as soon as they are 

 unpacked. If planting is to take place at once the trees may be carried 

 to the field in the "puddle." But if some time is to elapse before plant- 

 ing they should be "heeled in" as they are "puddled." For "heeling in" : 



Dig a trench deep enough to bury the roots and part of the stem. 

 The trench should run east and west, with its south bank at a slope of 

 about thirty degrees to the surface of the ground. A layer of trees should 

 be placed in the trench on its sloping side, the tops toward the south. The 

 roots and stems should be covered with fresh earth dug from a second 

 trench, in which a layer of trees is put and covered in the same way. The 

 digging of parallel trenches is repeated and layers of trees put in until 

 all have been "heeled in." 



Time for Planting. — The best time for planting is just before growth 

 begins in the spring. At such a time the seedlings are apt to receive the 

 least injury. In general the frost should be out of the ground. Frost is 

 one of the chief dangers of fall transplanting, for the young trees are 

 often heaved out of the ground as it freezes. It is also best to choose a 

 wet or cloudy day for transplanting. 



Methods. — After everything has been made ready for planting the 

 ground should be marked out in rows four, six or eight feet apart, depend- 

 ing on the species, character of the soil and length of time cultivation is 



