Planting Distances and Number of Trees per Acre 
For forest planting the trees are usually spaced four, five or six feet apart. If less than four feet 
apart the trees will tend to crowd each other as they approach maturity. If planted more than six feet 
apart the trees will have a tendency to grow “limby’’. For the customary spacing for forest 
planting the number of trees required is as follows: 
4 x 4 feet—2,720 per acre. 
Sx5 “—1,740 “ “ 
6x6 “—1,210 “ “ 
Care of Trees on Arrival 
Hampshire Evergreens are packed in such fashion that they reach you in perfect condition. When 
they arrive it is best, of course, to get them into the ground as soon as you can, but it isn’t necessary 
to drop everything and plant them at once. Dig a little trench about five or six inches deep. Place 
the roots of the tiny trees in the trench, spaced rather thinly and let them lean at an angle of about 
forty degrees with their tops toward the sun. Cover with moist earth to within two or three inches of the 
top. <A cool, shady spot in moist earth is ideal. If your soil is dry be careful not to water too 
heavily. Excessive moisture may cause them to overheat. Trees properly “‘heeled in” in this manner 
need not be planted for several days ... but get them into the ground as soon as you conveniently can. 
When To Plant 
The best time to plant is in early spring after snow disappears, just as soon as the frost gets out 
of the ground. After the ground is free from frost, any time is planting time for the next several 
weeks. And there is another fine planting period in the fall. September and October are almost always 
fine for planting . . . and even the latter part of August after an average moderate summer. There 
are just two things to watch out for in fall planting. After a prolonged dry spell remember that 
hot dry soil is unkind to even the best of tiny trees. Wait for your soil to become tempered with 
moisture. And if you consider late planting after a rainy spell just bear in mind that heavy soil is 
liable to “heave”. You can readily appreciate what heaving of the soil will do to the tender roots 
of tiny trees. 
Planting Methods . 
Two men work to best advantage in planting small tracts. The first one makes the holes with a 
grubbing-hoe or mattock. ‘The other one follows with the tiny trees, their roots immersed in a pail 
of mud and water. In each hole plant a tree, slightly deeper in the ground than it stood in the 
nursery. Be sure every tiny tree is set firmly in the soil. You can not plant them too firmly. It is 
important that after the tiny trees are taken from the “‘heeling-in” trench their roots are not 
allowed to become dry. Keep them immersed in mud every minute until planted. It isn’t necessary to 
prepare the ground in any way before planting. Just dig the holes and set in the tiny trees. For 
more extensive plantings a crew of five works most effectively. Two men precede, digging the holes 
in parallel rows at proper intervals. The third follows with his mud-pail containing the tiny trees. He 
hands the tree, as needed, to the two men bringing up the rear, who plant them firmly to the proper 
depth. It takes longer to tell about it than it does to do it. 
Christmas Tree Planting 
When planting for Christmas-tree profits the trees most widely used for best results are Norway 
Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas Fir, Balsam Fir and Colorado Spruce. If you are accessible to a 
market for three-foot “‘table-trees” you can plant your tiny trees as close as 2 x 2 feet. For full- 
grown seven-foot Christmas-trees the best spacing is 4 x 4 feet. Closer spacing will force the trunk- 
growth and make the joints between branch-rings too long to command the top price for attractive 
Christmas-trees. If you are reasonably near a large city where a market exists for “‘table-trees” you 
can make your land do double duty. Plant your tiny trees with the two-foot “‘table-tree’’ spacing. 
When they are three feet tall thin them and sell those you cut for “‘table-trees. This thinning can 
best be accomplished by cutting every tree in every other row in one direction and then the direction 
at right angles cut every tree in every other row of the trees that remain. 
