108 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



October, 1905 



Probably 98 per cent, of our tree plantings 

 get no better preparation nor carting of soil, 

 and will do just as well as the trees in the 

 woods or hedgerows if, like the trees in the 

 woods and hedgerows, they are adapted to 

 their conditions. And, in planting, the old 

 rule of Olmstead and other lanscape archi- 

 tects of "Plant native trees" or "American 

 trees for America " is a safe one to follow. 



But that rule can be carried even farther. 

 Upland trees should be planted in the uplands 

 and swamp trees in the swamps. It is in 

 planting swamp trees in the uplands, and 

 planting trees from an equable climate in a 



When bringing in soil it is best to use top soil 

 which has been proved good by the growth on 

 it. Sometimes, however, you get top soil 

 from a very moist place, and it may be very 

 sandy and the luxuriance of growth due to 

 abundant moisture. Often the whole region 

 is sandy, and the top soil that is brought in is 

 but very little better than the loam that is on 

 the place. It has only been darkened a little 

 by the decaying grasses, leaves and vegetable 

 matter, and is an expensive luxury. There 

 is one kind of soil to be avoided, and that is 

 the black muck from the bottom of a pond, 

 as it is sour. Until it has been exposed to 



taken off close to the trunk, leaving only 

 those which are to form the framework of the 

 future tree. These branches should also be 

 pruned, cutting them back perhaps half way 

 or more to a bud or crotch of a small twig. 



It is a mooted question whether the top or 

 leader should be cut off. If the leader is cut 

 off a tree forms later two leaders, which are 

 apt to split the trunk and ruin the tree, as in 

 the case of many maples. In Boston young 

 elm trees are planted with a long, slender pole 

 tied to each. As the tree grows this pole is 

 moved up the trunk, and the tree kept to a 

 single leader for sometimes thirty feet. 



117. Fall is the lime to maKe a grape arbor, and also the best time to plant grapes. Catawba is a good variety for arbors 



variable climate, that the most serious errors 

 are made. There are some trees, however, 

 which thrive in both swamp and upland. 



PLANTING ON SWAMP LAND 



To avoid stagnant water and sour soil 

 draining may be necessary. This should be 

 attended to before planting, because sour soil 

 will rot roots quickly. One way to plant on 

 wet ground is to plant high, putting the tree 

 above the surface and heaping the earth 

 above its roots. Trees that have been blown 

 over in swamps show that this is nature's 

 method, the roots being only six inches deep. 



frost or weathered a season, it is almost 

 certain to be injurious to the roots. 



PRUNING BEFORE PLANTING 



First cut off smoothly the broken root ends 

 which are over half an inch in diameter. 

 Next trim the top if it cannot be easily 

 reached from the ground after planting. A 

 convenient way is to hold the tree away from 

 you, or lay it over a box so that the top is in 

 the air. With an oak or other hardwood 

 tree, cut back severely, reducing the number 

 of buds 60 per cent, to 80 per cent. Perhaps 

 half or two-thirds of the branches can be 



After the hole has been prepared it should 

 be partially refilled so that the trees are at 

 their natural level. Spread the roots out 

 straight. It is most essential to work fine, 

 mellow soil under the centre of the tree. In 

 the case of fine roots, it may be necessary to 

 do this with the fingers, putting down one 

 layer of roots and covering them with soil, 

 and then another. With coarse, fibrous 

 roots the earth can be packed in with a 

 pointed stick. . 



The next operation is to see that the tree 

 stands vertically. The simplest way is to 

 stand off, then hold up the shovel so that it 



