How to Plant and Care for a Tree 



Size of the Hole. Dig the hole the full width of the 

 roots. Do not bend them around. The tendency is to 

 dig too deep. Dig deeper in the center for the central 

 roots and keep the side roots from 4 to 12 inches below 

 the surface. 



Good Soli. If good soil is needed, dig to 2 feet deep 

 and as much wider as you wish, and fill in with good 

 soil before placing the tree. 



Trimming. Cut back severely; you will get a bigger 

 tree. A general rule is to cut the previous year's shoots 

 to one to three buds and thin out the balance to one- 

 half. With Oaks and Beeches, cut still closer, cutting off 

 the branches % to }4 inch in diameter, but leaving some 

 big buds. With shrubs, take out the oldest branches and 

 leave the young graceful shoots. 



Planting. Set the tree in the hole the same depth as 

 it was^ before. Shovel mellow earth around the center and 

 pack it between the roots with a packing stick. Spread 

 out the side roots, cover with earth and trample. 



Watering. Water helps to work the soil between 

 the roots. Watering is not necessary, however, in autumn 

 and early spring, as there are always rains enough. In the 

 late spring, watering is very advantageous, especially if 

 the buds are starting. 



Manure. "Should manure be put in the hole?" is 

 often asked. Not unless it is rotted. Mix it with the 

 soil. Fresh manure near the roots may rot them. The 

 best way is to put the manure on the top. Nature keeps a 

 layer of decaying leaves 4 inches deep the year round. 

 Do the same with manure. If the manure is unsightly, 

 cover it with soil. 



Commercial fertilizer, bone-meal, wood-ashes and 

 nitrate of soda are useful, and small quantities may be 

 applied once a year or oftener. 



DPA/N IF NEC.ESSAPiW' 



Planting a deciduous tree 6 inches in diameter. How to 

 prepare the hole, pack the earth, and anchor the tree 



Care During Summer. Keep the surface cultivated 

 3 inches deep once in two weeks, the same as a cornfield. 

 Eighty per cent of the planters fail to get the best results 

 because they neglect 

 this point. They de- 

 ceive themselves. 

 They keep a little 

 circle, perhaps half 

 the width of the 

 roots, scraped bare 

 of weeds and grass, 

 but the ground is 

 hard, and not hoed 

 3 inches deep and 

 loose. The hard 

 ground allows the 

 moisture to dry out. 

 The closely shaven 

 lawn does the same. 



If the trees fail to 

 start full growth by 

 June, they can be 

 cut back more severely, but first examine the soil and see 

 that it is damp and mellow. 



Simimer Watering should be looked after once in 

 two weeks. If needed, give at least i inch of water. 

 Next day, stir the earth 3 inches deep, to prevent it froin 

 baking and drying out again. 



See large Tree Department, page 102, for further dis- 

 cussion. 



Heeling in. This means to plant temporarily. Pack 

 the earth between the roots and, if they are to stay several 

 days and the soil is dry, give plenty of water. 



Approximate Sizes of Holes 



DECIDUOUS TREES 



!• QFT. "j 



Planting an evergreen or other tree 

 with a ball of earth 



Diam. of 









Depth of 





Spread of 



Spread of 



Diam. of 



center of 



Depth 



trunk 



branches 



roots 



hole 



hole 



at side 



2 in. 



5 ft. 



5 ft. 



5 ft. 



12 in. 



' 6 in. 



4 in. 



8 ft. 



8 ft. 



8 ft. 



15 in. 



6 in. 



6 in. 



12 ft. 



12 ft. 



12 ft. 



15 in. 



6 in* 



8 in. 



16 ft. 



16 ft. 



16 ft. 



15 in. 



6 in. 



10 in. 



22 ft. 



22 ft. 



22 ft. 



18 in. 



6 in. 



14 in. 



30 ft. 



30 ft. 



30 ft. 



18 in. 



6 in. 



18 in. 



35 ft. 



35 ft. 



35 ft. 



20 in. 



8 in. 



22 in. 



40 ft. 



35 ft. 



35 ft. 



20 in. 



8 in. 







EVERGREENS 







Height of 









Depth of 



Spread of 



Diam. of 



Diam. of 



center 



tree 



branches 



baU 



hole 



of hole 



5 ft. 



2 ft. 



iKft. 



3 ft. 



15 in. 



8 ft. 



5 ft. 



3 ft. 



3-5 ft. 



18 in. 



10 ft. 



6 ft. 



3-4Mft. 



4-6 ft. 



20 in. 



14 ft. 



8 ft. ^ 



4-5 ft. 



5K-8 ft. 



20 in. 



18 ft. 



ID ft. 



4>^-6 ft. 



6-rIO ft. 



20 in. 



22 ft. 



12 ft. 



5-7 ft. 



7^11 ft. 



20 in. 



Cedars require holes of the narrowest diameter 



Certificate of Slnispettuin of ji^urgerp ^totfe 



This is to certify, that the stock in the nursery of Isaac Hicks & Son, Westbury, 

 County of Nassau, State of New York, was duly examined in compliance with the pro- 

 visions of section 305 of the Agricultural Law, and was found to be apparently free from 

 any contagious or infectious disease or diseases, or the San Jose Scale or other dan- 

 gerously injurious insect pest or pests. This certificate expires September 1, 1912. 



R. A. PEARSON, 



Dated, Albany, N. Y., September 19, 1911, Commissioner of Agriculture, 



