Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1916 — Trees Planted by Machine [ARTICLE]

Trees Planted by Machine

A machine which plants from 10 to 15 thousand forest tree seedlingsa day is now being used at the Letchworth ■Park Forest and Arboretum, in Wyom ing county, N. ¥., according to officials of the forest service who are acting as advisers in the work. Previous Jy the planting has been by hand at the rate of 1,200 to 1,500 trees ea<!h day per man. . The machine was designed to set out cabbage and tomato plants, but works equally well with trees. It is about the size of an ordinary mowing rwachine and is operated by three men and two horses. One man drives the team while the other two handle the seedlings. The machine makes a furrow in which the trees are set at any desired distance, and an automatic device indicates where they should be dropped. Two metal tired wheels push and roll the dirt firmly down around .the roots. This is a very desirable feature, it is said, because the trees are apt to die if this is not well done two attachments made it possible to place water and: fertilizer at the roots ot each seedling. Another attachment marks the line on which the next row of trees ta to be planted. No cost figures are available yet, but officials sa/ the cost will be much less than when the planting is done by hand. It la stated that th# machine can be used on any land which has been cleared and is not too rough to plow and harrow.