1664 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



one or two-year-old wood, will start as 

 readily, if not as strongly, as the buds 

 near tlie end of the most recent growth. 

 It must be remembered that the terminal 

 buds of the pecan very seldom grow. 

 They sometimes do so in seedling, but 

 very seldom after a certain age. This is 

 shown in Plate I, No. 3, and Plate II, 

 No. 13, which represent the growths made 

 during three seasons. In Plate I, No. 2, 

 the large, plump bud near the terminal 

 contains the flowering branch. The 

 branch shown in Plate I, No. 3, is de- 

 veloped from this bud. Plate II, No. 13, 

 shows a still further development. The 

 small, dead stump between the two liv- 

 ing shoots represents the position occu- 

 pied by the nuts the preceding year, 

 while the two shoots are from two of the 

 large buds near the nut. (Plate I, No. 3.) 

 In transplanting young trees, espe- 

 cially those which are to a certain extent 

 weakened by the operation of budding, 

 it is impossible to save all of the lateral 

 roots during the operation of digging 

 from the seed rows. It is, however, very 

 desirable that as few as possible be sac- 

 rificed. Very careful lifting will pay for 

 the extra labor. In seedling trees the 

 taproot is usually severed much too near 

 the collar and at too early a stage. It 

 must be allowed to grow the first and 

 second seasons if the seedlings are to be 

 budded, because when removed at the end 

 of the first season or the beginning of 

 the second the weak growth will render 

 it impossible to perform any budding op- 

 erations during that year. Therefore, it 

 is not till the third year that the taproot 

 can be interfered with, but it is well not 

 to risk touching it until the growth of 

 that season is completed, for the reason 

 that although the shoot made from the 

 inserted bud makes considerable growth 

 the same season it is put on, it will make 

 very large growth the season following. 

 The budded seedlings will then bear re- 

 moval. They may have a small part of 

 the taproot removed and be either 

 planted permanently or in nursery rows. 

 The budded seedlings of the present day, 

 if the variety be a good one, are retailed 

 at about $2.50 apiece. When the tree 



brings that amount — and the supply is 

 understood to be far short of the de- 

 mand — it should be furnished with good 

 roots. If it is worth that sum to the 

 purchaser, it is certainly entitled to a 

 little further expenditure of time and 

 care in the preparation of suitable con- 

 ditions under which to grow. The re- 

 tention of roots at least 2% feet below 

 the surface of the soil is desirable. If 

 the ground in which the young trees are 

 to be placed is not composed of good soil 

 to that depth, it should be supplied. A 

 good start the first year after planting 

 means everything to the future tree; a 

 bad start will, in the majority of cases, 

 mean a sickly tree for a long time and 

 an unprofitable investment in the end. 

 With the roots deep in good, light, loamy 

 soil the tree is to a certain extent inde- 

 pendent of moisture from the surface. 

 When growth begins in earnest, the roots 

 will grow in the direction of the food 

 supply. The severance of a large por- 

 tion of the taproot saves a good deal of 

 labor in digging and planting, but it 

 means a complete defeat of nature's 

 method in supplying the wants of the 

 tree. Anyone who tries the two meth- 

 ods and compares the results will be 

 convinced in one season in favor of large 

 roots. 



As a further precaution the roots 

 should be plunged in liquid mud the mo- 

 ment they are free from the soil and 

 never be exposed for a minute longer 

 than is necessary, as they too aften are, 

 to the drying influence of the air. After 

 taking from the mud the roots should be 

 wrapped in damp sacking, moss or any 

 other material which will hold moisture 

 and kept in this condition until they are 

 about to be planted. They should then 

 be again plunged in liquid mud and 

 while this is hanging to the roots they 

 should be planted. When the soil has 

 been well firmed about the roots of the 

 tree and the hole is about two-thirds 

 filled with soil, the remaining space 

 should be filled with water. When this 

 has disappeared, fill in the rest of the 

 soil. A mulch of short grass, stable lit- 

 ter or half-decayed leaves left on during 



