28 EVEKGSEEMf. 



He does not try to do bo much that he cannot super- 

 vise things himself. I have had trees three vreeks on the 

 vray, and nearly dried out through evaporation from the foli- 

 age, and yet plunged immediately Into thick mud and planted 

 I have sometimes lost not over two per cent. It Is lust as 

 easy to handle evergreens and Just as sure as It Is to plant 

 Blms or Ash, and there should he no more loss and need not 

 be. I wish It to be distinctly understood that it is just as easy to 

 raise an evergreen as a deciduous tree. Once establish this 

 fact and you will have evergreens In abundance. They should 

 be very carefully dug so as to get all the roots possible. Then 

 to avoid all danger they should be Immediately dipped Into a 

 puddle of mud, stiff enough to completely coat the roofs. This 

 seals them up from the air. In puddling them the richest loam 

 should be used. When this process was first used clay was 

 taken, but It was found that this made a hard covering through 

 which the tiny rootlets could not penetrate. If you take the 

 richest earth you can find, the tree is virtually planted from 

 the start, and I have often received trees the new roots of 

 which had already penetrated the coating. Tfaey commenced 

 growing on the way. After the mud has stiffened a little, then 

 pack them. Mr. W. usually packs a double tier, roots against 

 roots in the center of the box, and the tops towards the 

 ends which are open for the trees to breathe. If evergreens are 

 packed In atight boxthey will immediately beginto heat. The first 

 box I ever received was so hot many of the trees were ruined. 

 Tour box has a strong cleat in the centre. Lay some paper or 

 moss over this and then put in two or three layers root to root. 

 Now pile In plenty of wet moss. Don't be afraid of it; use no 

 substitutes. Excelsior and rotted leaves will not do; anything 

 but moss is a failure. After putting a few layers, put cleats 

 across them — good strong ones. Get onto them and press them 

 down all you can, and nail them by driving into the ends 

 through the sides of the box. Now fill up with moss and cover 

 the cleats so they will not bruise the trees. Put on mora 

 layers, and then use more cleats. Everything de- 

 pends on having thent solid. Do the best you 

 can, there Is a constant evaporation from the needles, and 

 they may get dry, but If packed so solidly that the air can- 

 not get In they will be safe with that mudcoat and moss. I 

 once collected a lot of evergreens in the mountains and ship- 

 ped to one of the U. S. Government stations. When the bill 

 was presented report was returned "your trees came dry." 

 However, they had accepted and planted them. Fortunately 

 they had fallen into good hands, and when I visited the sta- 

 tion they were doing far better than nursery-grown trees 

 shipped from) the East and there was no trouble In getting pay 

 (or them. Of course. If possible, trees should be packed bo wet 



