Trenching for fertility and depth. These pictures show the whole process : (1) open a trench two spits deep, removing soil to end of plot ; (2) spread manure 

 in the trench mixing with the bottom soil or top soil of new trench ; (3) turn second spit of soil from new trench on to the first ; (4) proceed to new width, etc. 



Planting Trees and Shrubs for Ornament— By David Mcintosh, 



New 

 York 



SEIZE THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITY OF SETTING OUT ALL KINDS OF DECIDUOUS AND EVERGREEN STOCK BEFORE 

 WARM WEATHER ARRIVES — WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN BUYING AND HOW TO PLANT FOR THE BEST EFFECTS 



THOUGH the nurserymen dig the trees 

 and shrubs carefully, and are equally 

 solicitous in packing to avoid injuring the 

 roots or branches, they are nevertheless cer- 

 tain to suffer some check. Three or four days 

 mav elapse before the plants reach their des- 

 tination, and moreover it is usually impossible 

 •or inconvenient to plant them at once, result- 

 ing in another few days' delay. 



When they arrive, undo the package and 

 set them in temporary trenches closely 

 together, covering all the roots with soil, and 

 if the soil and roots are very dry it will be 

 of benefit to water them. This is "heeling 

 in." It may also be well to throw some 

 light covering over the branches of such 

 shrubs and trees as show any signs of 

 wilting. Another method of keeping the 

 trees and other kinds of plants from exposure 

 until they are permanently planted is to 

 partly remove the packing material and stand 

 them on the floor of a coal shed or cellar. 



In planting first observe the length of the 

 roots, and dig holes at least two inches larger 

 all round than the extension of the roots. In 

 newly trenched ground, the trees when 

 planted should be at least an inch deeper 

 than they were in the nursery, to allow for 

 the later settling of the soil; if this is not done 

 some of the roots may become exposed. 



Place the tree or shrub in the hole so that 

 the trunk or clump is as near the centre as 

 possible. Look for broken roots, cutting 

 off the broken parts with a sharp knife or 

 shears. Make a clean wound, as otherwise 

 the injured root will decay. With the hands 

 straighten the roots so that they are evenly 

 spread over the bottom; then fill in with 

 fine soil dropped over the roots. At intervals, 

 as this is done, work the tree up and down 

 slightly so that the soil will find its way in 

 among the roots. After covering with two 

 or three inches of soil in this way fill with 

 the remainder, tramping it firmly; or a 



wooden pounder may be used if handled 

 carefully. 



If the soil and the weather are dry, watering 

 may have to be done; and when it is done 

 give sufficient to be sure that the water 

 reaches down to the roots. For this purpose 

 the soil around the plant should be formed 

 into a slight hollow so that, with one applica- 

 tion, it will hold a sufficient quantity of water 

 to be effective. Although in very dry seasons 

 newly planted trees and shrubs may need 

 watering occasionally, they will need it much 

 less if the soil is frequently stirred with a hoe 

 and rake — this stirring of the soil pulverizes 

 it, in which condition it acts as a "mulch" 

 or conservator of moisture. 



Tall trees when newly planted are apt to 

 be shaken by high winds which will prevent 

 their speedy establishment in the soil unless 

 stayed by wooden stakes driven into the 

 ground ; and in order that the bark may not 

 be injured by contact with these supports a 

 piece of rubber hose, split, should be placed 

 around the tree and then tied securely with 

 twine to the stake. 



HOW TO SELECT PLANTS 



Climatic conditions must always be con- 

 sidered in the selection of plants to be set out. 

 Many trees and shrubs that will thrive inland 

 will not grow in exposed situations near the 

 seashore. A look around the vicinity of 

 where the planting is to be done, to see what 

 plants are thriving, is a wonderful help. As a 

 guide to the planter some of the most reliable 

 ornamental for special purposes are indi- 

 cated below. 



EVERGREEN TREES 



The white spruce (Picea alba) is perhaps 

 the most generally reliable evergreen tree. 

 It is well adapted for grouping, for planting 

 in rows, and for single specimens. The 

 Norway spruce (Picea excelsa), both on 

 146 



account of its beauty and hardiness, is desir- 

 able and can be used for the same purposes 

 as the preceding. The difference in color 

 effect is great, however. The white spruce is 

 glaucous blue, the other a sombre, dark, 

 almost black green. 



The finest of all the spruces is the Colorado 

 blue spruce (Picea pungens), and its very 

 highly blue-colored varieties glauca and Kos- 

 teriana. These are beautiful in form and in 

 color and should be planted singly to form 

 specimens, which they do at a very early 

 stage of growth. Nordmann's fir (Abies 

 Nordmanniana) makes a handsome specimen 

 effective in grouping. The foliage is bright 

 glossy green and flexible looking. On 

 account of its rapid growth the Austrian pine 

 (Pinns Austriaca), hardy in most sections, is 

 one of the best evergreens for quick results. 

 The white pine (Pinns Strobus) is particularly 

 well adapted for planting on hillsides, and in 

 large numbers for large or medium forest 

 effects, as also is the Scotch pine (Pinns 

 syh<estris) . The hemlock ( Tsnga Canadensis) 

 is most graceful of outline, hardy, and 

 well suited for grouping in somewhat exposed 

 places, making a tall pyramid. 



All the above (with the exception of Colo- 

 rado blue spruce) can be bought at about a 

 dollar when three feet high. The Colorado 

 blue spruce is scarce as compared with 

 the others; trees of that variety, three feet 

 in height, cost from three to four dollars. 

 They are worth every penny of it. 



DECIDUOUS TREES 



Nearly all the maples are such useful and 

 accommodating trees that there are good rea- 

 sons for planting numbers of them. The 

 Norway maple (Acer platanoides) , as a single 

 specimen on a lawn, is without an equal for 

 beauty of form, luxuriance and rapidity of 

 growth, and capacity for producing quick 

 ornamental effects. It makes a round, dense 



