35 UNNATURAL CONDITION. 
After planting, the trees were cut back and 
great care taken of them. In two years from the 
time of planting, three hundred and twenty-four 
died. The only solution I can give, is, that they 
were stimulated to such an extent in the nursery, 
that when transplanted into an ordinary soil, the 
roots did not supply the amount necessary to keep 
the top in its unnatural condition. On close ex- 
amination of the young wood, I found it to be soft 
and spongy. I have no doubt, that forcing trees 
with putrescent manures is the cause of the numer- 
ous cases from which young trees suffer for two or 
three years after being set out. I do not mean to 
say you should select stunted trees, but such as have 
a healthy appearance, with a moderate growth of 
young wood, if, on examination, you find it hard to 
the extreme ends of the branches. You will often 
find, on cuttmg the young wood of trees that have 
been forced too rapidly, a dark brown spot in the 
center or heart of the twig; this is a sure indication 
of an unnatural growth, and great care will have to 
be given, or many of the trees will not survive more 
than one or two years. The best remedy for this 
is to cut off at least two-thirds of the previous year’s 
growth, and mulch the ground for a space of three 
feet around the body of the trees. 
The aphis, or what is commonly called the bark 
