8 



In digging the nursery tree the natural pro- 

 portions of root and top are distiirhed. — Wlieii a 

 nursery-grown tree is dug a large share" of its roots 

 is left ill the soil Tlie feeding roots are ahnost all 

 left behind ; but the top is undisturbed. It therefore 

 goes into business in an unbalanced condition. It is 

 top-heavy. There are too many buds and branches 

 for its diminished root system. What should we do? 

 Balance the tree by " heading-in." This is done con- 

 veniently after the ti'ee is planted. In late fall plant- 

 ing, the heading-back may be left till spring. "While 

 this is being done it is a good time to remove small 



interfering branches and to shape the bead 



of the tree generally. 



i 



> 



> 



t 



13. — tie-year peach 

 tree iwuned. 

 Apple trees 

 are trans- 

 planted at 

 tiDo years 

 and are not 

 pruned so 

 severely. 



Pruning as a part of orchard practice 

 ' will be taken np in a succeeding lesson. 

 In transplanting we prune to lessen the 

 evaj^oi'ating (transpiring) area of the . 



top. Tlie roots need attending to also. 

 In digging and shipping the trees they 

 are bruised and broken. Practice a 



little tree surgery. Bruised tissue '^^• — One-year peach 



^ ^ ^ 1 Ti iTT-^1 1 tree befm'e pruning. 



does not heal readily. With a sharp 



knife cut off all these injured parts. 



WJtere to huy and what to huij. — This is largely a busi- 

 ness consideration. Buy from a reliable firm ; 

 buy as near home as possible ; deal directly with 

 the grower. When trees are purchased of sales- 

 men or dealers the responsibility of the grower 

 is diluted to that extent, and when difficulties 

 arise the purchaser finds redress all the more 

 difficult. Then, too, the trees are more likely 

 to receive injury in a long haul than in a short 

 haul. It is true also that as a general rule, home- 

 grown trees are better- adapted to the surround- 

 ings and may be planted in better condition than 

 382 



