SHADE TREE PLANTING 
81 
the depth of planting should be as nearly as possible the 
same as the depth to which the tree grew in the nursery, 
a layer of soil, rich in plant food, should be placed at the 
bottom of the hole. This regulates the depth of planting 
and gives a fine, mellow soil condition which is important 
to growth. The depth of planting may be easily deter¬ 
mined by noting the mark of the soil around the trunk or 
stem, indicating the surface line before moving. 
In planting along city streets it is often necessary to 
provide richer soil than that which is at hand. Earth 
with good growing qualities may be procured in the 
vicinity of any city or town and the slight additional 
trouble involved in this step will be more than repaid by 
the results. City soil is seldom of a character that en¬ 
courages vegetation. The ideal soil is a light sandy loam, 
smooth in texture and so porous as to encourage the 
passage of air and moisture for feeding the roots. Clay 
soil packs tightly and prevents this free circulation, while 
too much sand is undesirable in that it does not hold 
moisture. The most satisfactory soil carries about 
seven-tenths sand, two-tenths clay and one-tenth decayed 
vegetable matter or thoroughly rotted manure. Fresh 
manure should never be used. A compost heap furnishes 
good material in the form of decayed manure mixed with 
fine soil. This heap should be prepared a year in advance, 
and the alternate layers of earth and manure spaded and 
turned occasionally to effect thorough mixing. In provid¬ 
ing new soil the amount required will be from 2 to 3 
cubic yards, to give the roots ample nourishment. 
Careful attention should be given to pruning before 
planting. This applies to roots which may have suffered 
injury in the process of digging or in moving, and it also 
applies, in a very important measure, to the removal of 
a considerable portion of the tree’s top. (See Chap, xv) 
6 
