382 



NATURE-STUDY 



excelsior, or Ijurlap. Small trees may be carried in a pail 

 or other \x'ssel of water. Set the tree in the prepared hole. 

 Throw in line soil well among the roots. After the roots are 

 covered several inches press the soil down 

 well with a rammer or with the heel. If 

 the soil is very dry, several pailfuls of 

 water should now be jwured on. Rejjeat 

 the })rocess of throwing in several inches 

 of earth and stamping. The last two or 

 three inches should not be jjut in liard, 

 but left as loose as possible, to serve as a 

 mulch to prevent the evaporation of the 

 moisture about the roots. A surface ap- 

 jjlication of well-rotted manure acts as a 

 good mulch and also as a fertilizer. 



The trees must not be too much 

 crowded, else they will Ix-come slender. 

 They grow more stocky and with more 

 rounded crowns if they have plenty of 

 room and light. In general, trees should 

 be planted not closer than twenty or 

 thirty feet, unless close grouping is es- 

 pecially desired. As the trees get larger 

 they may have to be thinned out, the 

 finest and most regular being retained. 

 After a tree is planted it should not be neglected and 

 allowed to die. In seasons of prolonged drought newly 

 planted trees are very apt to die from lack of moisture. 

 Daily watering, a pailful or so, is not of much use. When 

 trees are watered they should Ix" gi\'en about a barrelful at 

 a time, every two or three weeks. Careful cultivation and 



Fic. 162. Wild Cherry 

 Healing Wounds. 



( Cuts wantonly made to 

 remove ^t,'i|)les hnhliii^'- 



