the cover email text) to link to an earlier version of the patch series.
-16) Sending ``git pull`` requests
+16) Providing base tree information
+-----------------------------------
+
+When other developers receive your patches and start the review process,
+it is often useful for them to know where in the tree history they
+should place your work. This is particularly useful for automated CI
+processes that attempt to run a series of tests in order to establish
+the quality of your submission before the maintainer starts the review.
+
+If you are using ``git format-patch`` to generate your patches, you can
+automatically include the base tree information in your submission by
+using the ``--base`` flag. The easiest and most convenient way to use
+this option is with topical branches::
+
+ $ git checkout -t -b my-topical-branch master
+ Branch 'my-topical-branch' set up to track local branch 'master'.
+ Switched to a new branch 'my-topical-branch'
+
+ [perform your edits and commits]
+
+ $ git format-patch --base=auto --cover-letter -o outgoing/ master
+ outgoing/0000-cover-letter.patch
+ outgoing/0001-First-Commit.patch
+ outgoing/...
+
+When you open ``outgoing/0000-cover-letter.patch`` for editing, you will
+notice that it will have the ``base-commit:`` trailer at the very
+bottom, which provides the reviewer and the CI tools enough information
+to properly perform ``git am`` without worrying about conflicts::
+
+ $ git checkout -b patch-review [base-commit-id]
+ Switched to a new branch 'patch-review'
+ $ git am patches.mbox
+ Applying: First Commit
+ Applying: ...
+
+Please see ``man git-format-patch`` for more information about this
+option.
+
+.. note::
+
+ The ``--base`` feature was introduced in git version 2.9.0.
+
+If you are not using git to format your patches, you can still include
+the same ``base-commit`` trailer to indicate the commit hash of the tree
+on which your work is based. You should add it either in the cover
+letter or in the first patch of the series and it should be placed
+either below the ``---`` line or at the very bottom of all other
+content, right before your email signature.
+
+
+17) Sending ``git pull`` requests
---------------------------------
If you have a series of patches, it may be most convenient to have the