Each tree is surrounded with a wire guard to protect it from the 

 biting of horses; top of guard bears a rubber collar to prevent 

 chafing. The tree is held in place by a stake until the roots shall 

 have taken their own firm grip on the soil. Every tree planted by 

 us is cared for after planting, with systematic, scientific care. 



CARING FOR A TREE— MULCHING 



Now, what is meant by "caring for" a tree ? It means that the 

 tree is to be systematically mulched, fed, trimmed, sprayed, and so 

 on. These operations have their own appropriate times and sea- 

 sons. Now take mulching. The layman asks, what is that? 



Prospect Avenue, showing European Linden 



Answer: It's the applying of a mulch. And what's a mulch? 

 Well, it's a covering of loosened earth, or other substance, which is 

 strewn on the ground at the base of a tree or plant, in order (1) to 

 conserve soil moisture by preventing or hindering evaporation; (2) 

 to protect the roots from "winter injury"; (3) to keep the soil sur- 

 face friable and mellow; (4) where the mulch is also a fertilizer, 

 to add plant food to the soil. Take these in order. For (1) con- 

 serving the soil moisture, a good earth mulch is produced by the 

 simple process of completely removing a layer of soil and laying it 

 clown again, bottom up, in a loose, open condition, but carefully 

 pulverized. For (2) protection from winter injury, a number of 

 good mulches are available. Take either of these: Leaf mold or 

 peat, autumn leaves mixed with some litter to prevent their pack- 



8 



