152 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTUEE. 



dry enough around the tree, press it down firmly with the 

 foot, and if the weather continues dry go over the trees again, 

 drawing up more dirt and stamp it down as before. Very 

 large trees may require staking to keep them in place, but 

 for those of common size this will not be necessary. 



The next operation will be " head-in " the tree ; cut off the 

 superfluous limbs, and cut back all the remaining branches, 

 according to their growth and the amount of roots. The tree 

 as it stood in the nursery, as nature formed it, had roots to 

 correspond with the top. A large portion of these roots were 

 necessarily left in the ground, and ought not a part of the top 

 to be taken off to balance the tree ? Trees with plenty of 

 roots, that made a small growth the last season, will often do 

 well without much heading-in ; but those that have grown 

 vigorously ought to be cut back severely — better nearly all 

 the last year's growth. This also applies to the peach and 

 other fast-growing trees and shrubs. When the hot, dry 

 weather commences in summer, a heavy mulching will be 

 found very beneficial to newly-planted trees. 



As to the best time for planting there is a variety of opin- 

 ion. Our own experience would favor early spring, just as 

 early as the ground is dry and fine, though if the trees are 

 dug early and kept back, it is just as safe in May as in April. 

 "Where the ground is not wet, early fall planting is generally 

 successful and by many preferred. The distance apart again 

 is a subject of opinion. Our own advice would be to plant 

 closely, from twelve to fifteen feet, though it depends considera^ 

 bly upon the variety ; some will die out every year, and after 

 they commence well to bear, will grow very slowly. This will 

 give three hundred and twenty-five to the acre, and fifteen 

 feet from each other, two hundred. When the trees are 

 young, any low crop, like strawberries or garden vegetables, 

 will not be objectionable, nor when they are older, if it will 

 be borne in mind that surface-roots must not be cut off. A 

 better way after five or six years is to manure heavily every 

 fall, especially around the trees, and level-off and work in 

 slightly with a fork in spring ; then to cultivate with a horse 

 during the season, not working deeper than three or four 

 inches. 



After the first year the trees will need very little pruning. 



