S II miner Meeting. 97 



leaves a plain mark and is easily followed in setting the plants ; besides, 

 the rope or line is net in the way and the mark much easier to set to. 



Early planting is best. Much depends upon this work of setting the 

 plants, which should be thoroughly done and with the least exposure to 

 the plants. For this reason procure a small, light box or basin to carry 

 the plants in. Take a bunch of 25 or 30, as the case may be, and trint 

 off about one-third of the long roots (some take off half). Provide 

 yourself with a dibble (made of steel), or a wooden one will do if the 

 planting is not to be a large one. A dibble is made like a medium sized 

 butcher knife with a handle across the end, the blade being about twice 

 to three times as thick and provided with a double cutting edge, not so 

 sharp as the knife. The wooden one can be made easily out of a piece 

 of hard wood, osage orange being very suitable for this purpose. Take 

 the dibble and push it into the soil (on the line), draw it toward you 

 before withdrawing it, which will leave an opening for the roots of the 

 plant to be set. Now, with your left hand take out one of the 

 plants and place the roots about half way across the opening, and 

 with the dibble in the right hand draw the blade of the dibble across 

 the roots, and with the curved portion press the roots down into the 

 opening in such a way that when the dibble reaches to the bottom the 

 roots will not be doubled up but be straight down in the hole. A little 

 practice will soon show how easily it is done. Next take the dibble and 

 push it down about two inches ahead of the plant and draw the soil 

 toward the plant, firming it well, so as to cover the opening. Make 

 smother draw a little farther ahead and the plant is set, which should 

 leave the crown just peeping out of the ground. Continue the planting 

 at from 18 to 20 inches apart. Some set 2 feet, others 3 feet apart, de- 

 pending on the variety or the manner of after culture. Where it is 

 intended that the cultivation is to be both ways the plants are set 3 feet 

 apart. 



Generally it is best to begin the planting with a staminate variety. 

 Where pistillate varieties are used they are planted in the same field. 

 Most growers plant two rows of pistillate, then one of staminate, and so 

 on. 



Varieties in succession of season of ripening suitable for family use 

 or for market: Michel, Lady Thompson, Warfield, Clyde, Haverland, 

 Aroma, Ridgeway, Gandy. 



All blossoms should be removed from time to time, in order that no 

 fruit ripens on the new-set plants. Cultivation should be thorough from 

 the beg^inning in order to secure an even stand of your plants. 



HENRY N. WILD, 



Sarcoxie, Mo. Practical Fruit Grower. 



H-7 



