172 
three or four inches deeper than it stood 
in the nursery. It is believed that the 
best results are secured by setting dwarf 
trees so that the union between the bud 
and the stock is four or five inches below 
the surface. 
Common Error 
The common error committed by most 
tree planters is to plant too shallow. Deep 
planting tends to develop a deeper root- 
ing system; besides it affords a better 
anchorage for the young tree. 
Size of Hole for Hard Soil 
The size of a hole in hard soil should 
be greater than that of a hole dug in 
loose soil that is not underlaid with a 
hard impervious subsoil. Holes for trees 
in such hard soils should be especially 
large. In some instances it is advisable 
to use giant powder to break up this hard 
soil. Mr. B. F. Hurst of Boise, Idaho, 
recommends that a hole be dug to a 
depth of two feet, and in the center of 
this hole another hole is bored to an addi- 
tional depth of five feet. Giant powder 
is then. exploded in the bottom of the 
bored hole. The method is described by 
Mr. Hurst as follows: “Use two sticks of 
giant powder for each hole. Drop one 
stick down in the hole. Loosen, at one 
end, the paper around the other stick 
of dynamite. At this end insert a sharp 
peg the size of the cap to be used. At- 
tach the fuse to the cap and place the 
cap in the end of the powder. If there 
is water in the hole cover the cap with 
wagon grease, then draw the paper, and 
tie it around the string. Place this stick 
in the hole where the first stick was 
dropped, leaving the fuse about six feet 
long. The hole may be filled with water, 
or fine earth, but must not be tamped. 
Touch the match to the fuse. It is prob- 
ably superfluous to say that the operator 
should immediately remove to a consid- 
erable distance from the hole! 
When using dynamite great care must 
be observed, for it is extremely danger- 
ous in the hands of the inexperienced. It 
is very essential that the stick, to which 
the cap has been applied, be lowered 
gently into the hole or a premature ex- 
plosion may result. ,The safer practice 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
in using this explosive is to employ ex. 
perienced help. In removing the dirt 
from the hole, that taken from the top. 
most six inches should be placed on one 
side while that taken from the lower 
depths should be placed in a separate 
pile. The reason for this is that the 
surface soil is richer, containing more 
available plant food than the subsoil, anq 
is therefore better adapted for placing in 
immediate contact with the roots. The 
bottom of the hole should be thoroughly 
loosened by several thrusts of the spade 
after which some of the surface soil is 
thrown in before the tree enters the hole. 
Filling the Hole 
After the tree has been placed in its 
exact position, by means of a tree locator 
or by sighting, the roots are spread out 
evenly in all directions and then the 
hole is filled. The first dirt put into the 
hole should be the rich soil from the sur- 
face. This should be worked tightly un- 
der and between the roots by using the 
fingers. Slightly moving the tree up and 
down will aid in getting the soil under 
the roots. The hole is then filled half 
full of surface soil and tramped down 
firmly; after this the hole is filled to the 
top with the other soil and again tramped. 
A few shovelfuls of loose dirt or a few 
forkfuls of manure thrown about the 
tree to prevent the loss of moisture, com- 
pletes the operation. 
Manuring the Hole 
The question is very often asked re- 
garding the advisability of placing ma- 
nure in the bottom of the hole. A forkful 
of fine, well-rotted manure placed in the 
bottom of the hole may cften prove bene- 
ficial, but coarse manure should never be 
used in this manner because it will heat 
and scald the roots. Spreading manure 
on the surface about the tree is generally 
regarded as the better practice. 
Lean Towards Wind 
Where the wind blows strongly from 
the southwest, and west, as it does in 
many localities of Idaho, unless some 
windbreak exists, it is very important 
that the tree be set so that it points 
strongly against the prevailing wind. 
