246 AMERICAN HOME GAKDEN. 



out to a sufficient depth, the bottom of the hole should be loosen- 

 ed, and a portion of the suiface soil or rich earth mixed with 

 it, filling up the hole so far as may be necessary to suit the 

 root. Having the root properly trimmed, set it carefully in 

 position, with the fibres spread naturally, and fill in gradually 

 with good earth finely pulverized, shaking the root gently 

 once or twice to secure the filling up of any open spaces. 

 When the roots are well covered with the earth, take the body 

 of the tree in.ycau- hands, and, holding it true, press the earth 

 with the foot upon the roots with moderate fii-mness ; then fill 

 up the hole about level with the smface, hilling a little if the 

 planting is done in the fall, and dishing slightly if done in 

 the spring. 



If yom- soil be very wet, dig the holes as above directed, and 

 refill them again to the surface, or very nearly, and, spreading 

 the roots upon this loose surface, hill the earth over them, and 

 carefully stake your tree. In wet soils of a deep boggy or 

 mucky natm-e, and that can not be drained, holes need not be 

 dug, but the tree may be set immediately upon the sod, and 

 covered by hilling largely, staking it strongly, and mulching 

 it. See Fig. 119 5, p. 244. 



AYhenever it is found necessary at the setting out to stake 

 trees, it would lie well to have the stakes set fii'mly into the 

 holes and ranged with precision before removing the trees, in 

 which case they may be easily and accurately arranged in po- 

 sition by being afterward set uniformly upon the same side of 

 the stake ; but, whether set before or after, let them be firmly 

 bomid to the stake with a straw or other coai-se band, passing 

 .and crossed between the tree and the stake, so that, in case of 

 frequent winds, it will prevent nibbing ; and having spread 

 around them, if it is spring, coarse litter, or straw, or loose 

 rubbish of any kind, as. mulching, weight it with a few stones 

 to keep it in place, and yom- work is done (Fig. 119 &, p. 244). 



If drought occur, you may, if you deem it necessary, apply 

 water through the covering of mulch or litter ; but avoid the 

 not uncommon practice of joouring pails of water into the holes 

 when planting, by which the earth, which should be loose and 

 frialile, is made into mud or mort.'n-, Avhich a succeeding heat 



