216 



MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



all to be cut back to within about an inch of the bodv, leavins; onlv one 

 bud on each stump. All branches are to be cut awav smoothly against 

 the body up to a height of about twelve inches, so the trees will be headed 

 at this distance from the ground. The tops are to be cut off at a point 

 about 24 to 30 inches high. See Figs, i and 2 for tree before and after 

 being trimmed for planting. It is unnecessary and undesirable to have 

 the trees headed higher than 12 inches. 



Great care should be exercised in handling the trees before planting. 

 The roots should not be allowed to be exposed to the sun any more than 

 can be helped and neither should they be in the wind if the day happens 



Fig. 4.— Same as Fig. 3, after being properly pruned. 



to be cloudy. Sun and wind acting together quickly dry out and greatly 

 injure the root of the peach. A prominent fruit grower was asked how 

 long it was safe to leave the roots of the peach exposed. The answer 

 was, "about as long as you can hold your head under wa'.cr." This was 

 a forcible illustration, and, while not literally true, serves to emphasize 

 the importance of protecting the roots, ^^'hile the roots of apple trees 

 are also injured by exposure to sun and wind, they will stand worse treat- 

 ment in this respect th.an pcnclics. 



