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Sherman Nursery Company, Charles City, Iowa 
Salesman’s Guide 
Season for Planting 
The proper season for planting trees should 
be determined by the condition of the trees to 
be planted. It is better that these trees be 
started a little. Trees that have burst their 
buds will do better than those planted when 
perfectly dormant. It matters but little if the 
trees in the locality where the stock is being 
set are in full leaf; if the trees that are being 
planted are not started to any great extent, 
they will be none the worse for having been 
planted a little late. As a rule, we have found 
that deciduous trees, as well as evergreens, do 
better if planted after the ground has begun 
to warm up. Frequently the time for plant¬ 
ing corn is the best time for planting trees. 
How to Handle Trees and Plants 
Upon Arrival 
See that they are not exposed to sun or 
wind for any greater length of time than is 
absolutely necessary. Get them into their per¬ 
manent location at tlie earliest possible 
moment. Do not unwrap them from the orig¬ 
inal package until you are ready to do this. 
If it is absolutely necessary for them to lay 
over a day or so after receiving, do not unwrap 
the package, but see that the roots are mois¬ 
tened and that they are kept in a cool, shady 
place. If you find the package in a frozen con¬ 
dition or if received during freezing weather, 
place the package in a cool place, a damp, 
cool cellar is preferred where it is just above 
freezing, and allow them to remain there before 
opening the package, for a sufficient time to 
remove all of the frost. If these directions are 
followed, freezing will not have injured your 
plants. The essential thing is to draw the 
frost out very slowly, the same as nature would 
do it in the spring. 
Preparation of Trees and Plants 
for Planting 
Generally speaking, all deciduous trees and 
plants (those that shed their leaves in the win¬ 
ter) should have the tops trimmed back about 
one-half of the last season’s growth before 
planting. We know that the average planter 
hates to cut from six to twenty-four inches 
off from the top of a five- to six-foot fruit or 
shade tree when he transplants it. Thousands 
of trees are lost every year because this is not 
done. A tree that lias been so trimmed will, in 
two years time, outstrip in size and height an 
untrimmed tree. We sometimes feel that we 
should require our customers to so trim their 
trees or forfeit the replace guarantee. Impress 
the necessity of this trimming upon your cus¬ 
tomers. Trees and plants are like humans, 
having only a limited amount of vitality, and 
we can help them to retain this vitality by 
lessening the amount of top which the roots 
have to support until they have established 
themselves. 
All broken or badly damaged roots should 
be removed and the tips of all heavy roots 
should be cut back at least a half inch just 
before transplanting. 
General Transplanting Directions 
The important points in transplanting all¬ 
trees and plants are, first; dig the hole to a 
size that will easily accommodate all of the 
roots of the plant without bending or crowd¬ 
ing. Have the hole just deep enough so that 
the plant will set a little deeper than it did 
in the nursery. Place the plant in its loca¬ 
tion, sifting enough fine dirt in around the 
roots to cover them well. If large sized trees 
or plants, pack this earth firmly with the feet 
—if smaller sized plants, use the hands. Do 
not be afraid of packing the earth too firmly 
about the roots. Fill the hole with dirt to 
within two to four inches of the top with loose 
soil. If soil is reasonably dry, a pail of water 
should be added at this time and allowed to 
soak away, then fill the hole with loose fine 
dirt, but do not pack it. See that this top 
earth is kept loose or well mulched until the 
tree has a good start. Water sufficiently to 
soak the ground to the bottom of the roots 
once a week, if weather is dry. It matters 
not whether surface mulch is used to retain 
this moisture or whether the surface of the 
ground is stirred at frequent intervals of a few 
days, so that the soil is kept fine and loose. 
If trees are large and planted in exposed 
locations, such should be staked. If this is 
found necessary, the trunk should be wrapped 
at point of contact with stake or other fas¬ 
tening. 
1 2 
No. 1—The wrong way. No. 2—The right way 
to plant and trim a tree. 
