26 



to becaiiso tho early branches will, with this method, form the tree. 

 When ready for trans])laiUing, a trench shoidd be dug around the tree 

 at a distance of not less than 1 J feet from the trunk and deep enough 

 to go below the lateral roots. The ball of earth inclosing the roots 

 can be loosened by cutting the taproot with a spade. Two men will 

 be able to lift the ball while the third slips a piece of burlap under- 

 neath. This may then be tied, so as to inclose the whole ball, which 

 can be lifted onto a wagon and transported any distance without 

 breaking. Of course this can be done only where the soil contains 

 enough clay to prevent the ball from breaking. 



The cost of this method of planting was ascertained at the grove of 

 Graham & Co., Pueblo Viejo, but as the men were just being trained in 

 it, it is probable that the figures can be reduced about 5 cents. 



Cost of transplanting tree with ball of earth. 



Cents. 



Digging hole 40 b\' 40 by 24 inches deep 3 



Refilling holes and mixing soil with fertilizer 2 



Digging tree with ball of earth 2| to 3 feet in diameter 8 



Carting one-half mile or less 3 



Setting tree and watering 3 



Total 19 



This is probably 10 cents more expensive per tree than the old 

 method, but it readily repays the extra cost, because when a clean tree 

 is planted there will be but little spraying to do and at least one year's 

 time is saved in the growth of the tree. 



CULTIVATING AND FERTILIZING. 



It has been the practice with many of the growers to leave the 

 whole field in weeds and hoe a circle around each tree. This has not 

 given the best results, because in hoeing the soil is not loosened and 

 pulverized. In other groves the method of cultivating strips around 

 the trees and leaving the middles uncultivated lias been practiced. 

 While this is an almost ideal way to enrich the soil if the middles are 

 planted with legumes and plowed once or twice a year, it has not been 

 wholly successful here, because any growth of grass or weeds serves as 

 feeding and hiding places for the May beetle, orange leaf-weevil, and 

 ants. It has been found necessary in many groves to keep the soil 

 perfectly clean by going through it often with tools like disk and drag 

 harrows and tooth cultivators. If this method is followed part of the 

 year, it is not a good practice to let the weeds grow tall enough to 

 necessitate the use of a turn plow, because that implement will destroy 

 many roots and probably check the growth of the tree and lessen its 

 vitality. 



