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fully as possible so that very few roots be broken. Wrap the roots 

 in wet burlap or cover them with moist moss, or place them in thin 

 mud. The plants may then be carried safely to tlie place of plant- 

 ing. If it is not done at once they should be '^heeled in." In plant- 

 ing do not cramp the roots in any way and see that the growing ends 

 are down, and not up. Place fine soil among the roots and pack it 

 thoroughly. If sod has been taken out, turn it upside down on the 

 ground close to the tree. Young plants are sensitive to being 

 planted too deep and so should be no deeper than they were in the 

 nursery. Of course with larger plants, when a great deal of dirt has 

 been loosened, allowance must be made for some settling, but this 

 will not be necessary if packing is well done. When larger roots 

 have been broken or bruised they should be cut off smooth with a 

 sharp knife. Planting can not be done too carefully. 



Methods. — In loose and in sandy soil small plants may be set out 

 quickly with the ''dibble.'' This is simply a wooden peg or some 

 iron instrument which will make a hole large enough to have the 

 roots dropped into it. The hole should be made deeper than the 

 roots are long. Place the plant in the hole as far as convenient and 

 then raise it to the proper planting depth. In this way the roots will 

 be in a natural position and not turned up, or to one side. The hole 

 is closed by running the dibble into the ground near the hole and 

 forcing the soil against the roots. This method may be used to good 

 advantage within a forest to fill up blanks if the soil is deep enough. 



The most common method, and that applicable under more condi- 

 tions than any other, is planting in holes that have had to be dug in 

 some manner, as with a spade or hoe. It is necessary for large 

 plants. It is the best method for small plants in heavy soils and 

 in stony places. In fact it may be used anywhere but in the very wet 

 soils. It is well to have the holes dug in fall and allowed to lie open 

 during the winter for spring planting. Humus, rich ground or 

 manure may be used in planting, and if so, should be well placed 

 among the roots, the poorer soil being placed on top. Each plant 

 should be made firm. 



On hillsides where a plow can be used terraces may be formed by 

 laying rows of stones along the hill side, or if more time can be taken, 

 by putting in stakes and placing small branches on the uphill side. 

 Run a furrow above this in autumn and during winter the ground will 

 be more or less broken up, facilitating spring planting a great deal. 

 Where a plow can not be used on a slope the onl}^ resource is to dig 

 holes just wherever possible and put in strong plants. 



In wet soils, swamps or marshes, mound planting may best be used. 

 This is very similar to hole planting, except that the plant is put 

 into the ground thrown out of the hole instead of placing it in the 

 hole itself as in the other cases. If sod has been lifted, split it and 



