52 IMPORTED TREES. 
tions oftentimes is the cause of much delay and dis- 
appointment. When the trees arrive at their desti- 
nation, the boxes or bundles should be opened at 
once, the trees carefully lifted out, the roots wet, and 
the trees “heeled in,” that is, put into a trench two 
feet wide, eighteen inches deep, and any desired 
length. The trees must be placed in this trench in 
an upright position, as closely as they will stand, and 
the fine earth filled in around the roots, covering 
also six or eight inches of the body of the trees. 
They may be left in this way with safety until the 
ground is made ready for planting. If the roots 
look very dry on taking them from the boxes, they 
may be placed in a stream of water for twelve to 
thirty-six hours before planting. I have frequently 
appealed to this practice with imported trees that 
were a long time on their way, and in most cases 
have been successful in saving the life of trees so 
treated.. 
