People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1897 — Spring Planting. [ARTICLE]

Spring Planting.

One of the most serious objections to spring planting is that if the trees are to come from the nursery they will make the planting late. This may be obviated by securing the trees in the fall and heeling them in. Then they are at hand ready for planting when wanted, The ground can be plowed, manured and staked out during the winter, and this will be another help in getting the planting done early. So far as is possible the planting should be done as early as the condition of the soil will admit. While early planting is advisable there is no advantage in attempting to set out trees unless the soil is in a good condition, as one item in securing a good growth is to have the work of planting properly done. The advantage in early planting is the longer time for growth before hot, dry weather sets in, and for the soil to get well settled around the roots. A safe rule is to set as deep as the trees grew in the nursery, to have the holes large enough to admit all of the roots without bending or twisting. The dead and injured roots should a 1 be cut off, always making a Smooth, slanting cut; and then the top should always be cut back in proportion to the roots. The soil should be throughly fined, and if manure is te be applied it! should be well rotted and thor-'

oughly incorporated with the soil. It is a very good plan to scatter the manure in the bottom of the hole or place prepared for the tree and then set the tree in it. Fill in the soil carefully around the roots, ‘as it is an important item to have the roots and soil come in close contact, and in many cases it will pay after the roots are covered to tramp the soil down well. Care must always be taken to keep the roots moist while transplanting. as the drying of the roots and the failure to have the roots and soil come in close contact cause more loss than any other causes.—Farmer’s Voice.