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Chestnut Hill, 'PhiladelpluZ 
Aft er Planting. As soon as the hole is filled and the tree has been 
properly and firmly set, spread over the surface a layer 4 or 5 inches thick 
of either old or fresh manure ; this layer should extend a foot or two 
beyond the line of the newly filled hole, and this mulching is important, as 
it will help to hold moisture; and moisture is, after careful planting, the 
most important aid to insure success. It should be borne in mind that 
when a tree is transplanted, no matter how carefully the work is done, 
it is impossible to take up the entire root system, and therefore before it 
is able to care for itself it must form new roots, which must take hold 
of the soil. In the meantime, by the action of the wind and sun, the 
moisture is being continually evaporated from the trunk and branches, 
and this must be balanced by an artificial supply. During dry spells and 
hot weather of the following season, the soil around the base of the tree, 
for a space wider than the original hole, should be frequently watered, 
but not so as to make the ground soggy. When possible the foliage 
should be sprayed. 
PRUNING 
As it is impossible to transplant a tree without affecting the root 
system, it is important, in order to balance the supply and to help avoid 
excessive evaporation, that the top of the tree should be cut back. The 
amount of cutting depends entirely on the amount of fibrous root carried 
by the tree, although hard-wooded varieties usually require harder cutting 
than soft woods. It is a good rule to remove about three-fourths of last 
year’s growth from all the branches; and in doing this use a sharp knife, 
making a perfectly clean cut, and taking off the branch or part of branch 
cither at a fork or close to a strong bud. Be very careful not to leave 
stumps, as they invariably die back and create decay. The best time for 
pruning is when the trees are set out, and if they are large it will be found 
advisable to cut them before they are planted; but in every case be careful 
to preserve the natural form of the tree, and do not cut back into ole 
heavy wood that does not show buds. Shrubbery pruning should be 
done with a knife, not with hedge shears, and as a rule just after the 
plants have flowered; but in some cases this would prevent the showy fruits 
and seeds in the autumn. It is almost impossible to give general directions 
for pruning shrubbery that will apply to all. 
The whole subject of successful planting may be briefly summed up 
as follows: A well-drained hole larger than the spread of the roots; good 
soil, broken roots carefully trimmed and the top branches shortened in; 
soil packed so that the tree stands quite firm, a heavy mulch'ng as soon as 
the planting is completed, and careful watering during the first season. 
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