THE HANDLING OF THE PLANTS 135 
of the hole so that the hind wheels can be backed over it. The 
tree is then lowered to the proper depth, and made plumb by 
the guy-ropes, and good, mellow soil is thrown in and packed 
well into all the cavities under the roots. When the hole is 
half filled, several barrels of water should be poured in; this 
will wash the soil into the cavities under the center of the tree 
much better. When the water has settled away, fill in and 
pack the soil till the hole is little more than full. Leave a 
depression, so that all the rain that may fall will be retained. 
The tree should now be judiciously trimmed and the machine 
removed. Five men can take up, move, and plant a tree in a 
day, if the distance is short and the digging not too hard. The 
tree should be properly wired to stakes to prevent the wind 
from blowing it over. The front part of the machine is a part 
of our platform spring market-wagon, while the hind wheels are 
from a wood-axle wagon. A tree ten inches in diameter, with 
some dirt adhering to its roots, will weigh a ton or more.” 
Winter protection of plants. 
If the ground is not ready for planting in the fall, or if it is 
desired for any reason to delay until spring, the trees or bushes 
may be heeled-in, as illus- 
trated in Fig. 151. The roots 
are laid in a furrow or trench, 
and are covered with well- 
firmed earth. Straw or 
manure may be thrown over 
the earth still further to pro- 
tect the roots, but if it is 
thrown over the tops, mice 
may be attracted by it and the trees be girdled. Tender trees 
or bushes may be lightly covered to the tips with earth. Plants 
should be heeled-in only in loose, warm, loamy or sandy ground 
and in a well-drained place. 
