Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1892 — Planting Fruit Trees. [ARTICLE]

Planting Fruit Trees.

A continual caution is kej>t before planters to look out particularly for an abundance of fibrous roots. It should not be forgotten that fibers are only annual; they serve as feeders for the year. and at the crifi ot the year die away just as leaves do. Among these fibers a very small proportion become permanent roots. It should be a much greater care to have plants with an abundance of two or three old roots, that are'young, active and vigorous, than mere fibers. If this is understood, all right; but very often the worst thing a tree can have is too many fibers. When over abundant they prevent the earth from getting near the active roots, and as they die away before the season is over’ they -make a vacuum which is of no value whatever to the plant. Tho earth tliould be packed in tight around the energetic roots, and not merely around the small fibers. In regard to tho evergreen trees, it is a common thing to have transplanted hemlock spruces, Norway spruces and other similar plants with a very large mass of fibers, die. The reason is the one we have already given, that so dense a mass prevents the earth from getting around the real roots, that should be proporly so called. It may be again impressed in a brief paragraph that what is wanted is an abundance of two or threo vear-old roots to a tree, and not mere annual fibers. —Meehan’s Monthly. There are said to be over 23,00© Indians jn the United States who can read English, and over 10,000 who can read Indian languages.