Arpi.K Culture. 317 



tliat luib gl•o^Yll from tlircc and one-lirJf to four and oue-lial£ 

 feet and then Lranclied, as soon as it has thrown out 

 branches at that hci,ii-]it, is of the proper siz3 to set. If 

 allowed to stand in the nursery rows longer than this noth- 

 ing will be gained, for, as tlie trees grow, the roots also 

 grow and, in taking up, as many roots are saved on the 

 younger tree as on the older, and consequently there must 

 be a greater proportion of loss on the larger tree, and, as a 

 general rule, it will be found in practice that the smaller 

 trees will be the more successful — then, I say, do not clioose 

 overgrown trees but those that are smallish, well rooted 

 and thrifty. 



After the trees have been procured and taken home, if 

 they are to be kept any length of time before setting, thej 

 must be heeled in, that is, the roots must be buried in the 

 earth. When ready to set, take out a few trees at a time, 

 no more than can be easily kept moist, as the roots must 

 not be exposed long to the action of the sun and air. Cut 

 back the broken portion of the roots to the sound wood. 

 "Why do this ? Why perform tliis extra labor ? No one 

 wlio lias had occasion to remove trees a year or two after 

 transplanting will ask this question. (>n a broken root not 

 cut back as directed tliere will be found a dead stub, one, 

 two or three inches in length, as the case may be, which 

 will, of course, affect the tree more or less ; wlicreas, if tlio 

 root has been cut away as directed, a callas Mill be fo:-mcd 

 and rootlets thrown out at the edge of tlie cut, and the 

 whole root will be in a sound, healthy condition. 



The top must be pruned. And why ? Primarily, to 

 shape the tree, for the shape of an apple tree is of a good 



