46 BULLETIN 816, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
When taking trees from the ground where they have been heeled 
in to the place for planting, great care must also be exercised to see 
that the roots are not exposed to sun er wind, but are kept closely - 
covered with moss, wet burlap, or canvas until planted. —Lack- of - 
care in this matter is a greater cause of loss in tree planting than care-— 
lessness in any other particular. One city that has its own nursery 
and uses largely trees that are supposed to be difficult to move, but 
is careful about not exposing the roots fora moment (fig. 31), has aloss 
of less than 1 per cent. If the roots once dry the trees will die, and 
it takes but a short exposure to dry the roots. The holes should be 
P20350HP 
Fic. 31.—A load of trees and tree boxes. The roots are packed in wet moss and a tree is not taken 
from the wagon until the planter and two shovelers are at the hole where it is to be planted. 
prepared well in advance of planting, so that no time will be lost 
when conditions are right for putting the trees in the ground. 
In regions 1, 10, 11, 12, and 13 (fig. 17) the best time for planting 
deciduous street trees is the month or six weeks just preceding 
freezing weather in the fall. The other desirable time for planting 
is as soon after freezing weather is over in the spring as the ground 
is dry enough for the mechanical operations. This should be as early 
as possible, as the more opportunity there is for root growth before 
warm weather forces the top into growth, the better the results are 
likely to be. In regions 6, 8, and 9, where the ground freezes to a 
considerable depth, spring planting is to be preferred to fall planting 
unless it is possible to drench the soil thoroughly for a considerable 
distance around the trees at planting time and after that to mulch 
