438 REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



The age of trees for planting — whether they he two, three, 

 or four years from the pit, they should be only one year from 

 the bud ; the roots may be cut off pretty close, say six to eight 

 inches, depending somewhat on their age and size. There is 

 little danger of losing the tree from pruning, if taken up in 

 the spring and not injured by frost, and the roots not ex- 

 posed to drying winds. I am not an advocate of the slow 

 process of planting so often recommended. The holes, where 

 the ground is properly prepared, may be dug quite rapidly, and 

 jaot larger than the roots require, the earth loosened in the 

 bottom, and left in the shape of an inverted bowl ; the trees 

 should be set a little deeper in this sandy soil than they grew 

 in the nursery, and after seeing that the roots are in place, fill 

 up as fast as you please, packing slightly with the_ foot when 

 full, and throwing a little loose earth on the top ; and, when 

 done, cut off all the branches. 



I think it best to ''shorten in," in the latter part of summer, 

 the first two or three years growth, the amount of which 

 depends much on the natural habits of the variety, the amount 

 of growth it has made, and the shape you wish it to assume ; 

 but I have no doubt that this process, especially if done in the 

 spring, hinders early bearing, — a thing very desirable in any 

 fruit tree, if not allowed to be excessive, as the tree, as well as 

 the animal, is affected through life by habits formed in youth. 



The Barnard and the Orange Rareripe, (two varieties of w'hich 

 I shall hereafter speak,) require much more watchful shortening 

 than the Serrate Early York, or the Crawfords. Heading low 

 is best for the vigor and health of the tree, especially in windy 

 situations, but it requires much more hard labor in the culti- 

 vation, and it is objectionable, if you are to fight the curculio 

 on Dr. Hull's plan. A close observer will readily see that, in 

 all pruning, he must remove about twice as much from the 

 east side as the west, and cut to an upper bud on the east side, 

 and to an under one on the west. In no other way, in our soil 

 and climate, can he obtain a proper symmetry of the tree. 



