Setting the Plants. 245 
to get the soil thoroughly firmed in about the 
roots—which are straightened out in approximately 
their natural position—and especially under the crown 
or fork of the roots, in order that no air-spaces 
may be left to dry out. This dirt can be best placed 
by fingering it in, moving the tree gently up and 
down at the same time. Once or twice in the pro- 
gress of filling the hole, the earth should be stamped 
down. Fill the hole to a little more than level 
full to carry off surface water, but be careful that. 
no hollows are left too close about the tree into 
which water can settle, especially when planting in 
the fall. Stamp or pound the earth very firmly 
about the tree before leaving it, for the double pur- 
pose of retaining moisture and of holding the tree 
against winds. Small stuff, like nursery stock and 
small-fruit plants, may often be well planted by 
means of a dibber or spud. All this operation of 
planting can proceed to perfection only when the 
earth is dry enough to crumble. Stock cannot be 
well planted in wet and sticky soil. 
If trees are set according to these directions, 
and the tops are cut back as explained farther on, 
there will rarely be any necessity for staking and 
tying the trees to keep them plumb. 
Mulches of straw or manure are sometimes ad- 
vised for newly set trees. For trees planted late in 
spring and upon droughty soils, a light mulch about 
the tree may be advised; but in other cases it is 
not. If mulches are applied to fall-planted trees, 
care must be taken to tramp them down well, or 
