farmers' institutes. 217 



Immediately upon receiving trees from the nursery they should be 

 unpacked and heeled in. Dig a trench ten or twelve inches deep with one 

 sloping side. Place the trees in the trench, leaning them well over and 

 cover the roots with soil. Give them plenty of room where they are heeled 

 in so that all of the roots will some into contact with the earth and be kept 

 moist and green. 



A sled is the best vehicle with which to haul the trees to the field, 

 being low and convenient, but an ordinary farm wagon may be used. 

 Pack wet straw around the roots while the trees are being moved. In 

 setting, two men should work together, perhaps assisted by a boy if the 

 trees are in a wagon. One man prunes the tree, top and root, as described, 

 while the other digs the hole. The root system being in sight, he knows 

 exactly how deep the hole should be and thus no time is lost by having 

 to fill in or dig deeper after trying the tree. The tree should be set at 

 the same depth it grew in the nursery. One man should hold it in an 

 upright position wdiile the other shovels in some fresh soil and works it 

 about the roots with his hands. This process is very materially aided 

 by slightly churning the tree up and down, which causes the loose, friable 

 soil to settle into all of the crevices. When the earth is packed under the 

 roots as well as over them, pack down well with the foot. When approxi- 

 mately level with the top of the ground, tramp firmly. Before leaving 

 the tree, spread a thin layer of loose soil around it to prevent the ground 

 from baking. 



After the trees are planted, go over the orchard and protect them 

 with wooden veneer wrappers, using those twelve inches long and sticking 

 each wrapper into the ground one or two inches. In putting on the wrap- 

 pers, wind them loosely about the trees so as to leave a space about two 

 and one-half inches in diameter for the trees to stand in. This will per- 

 mit of a free circulation of air and the bark will not be injured in the least. 

 The wrappers are very useful for keeping out borers and may be left on 

 the trees until they wear out. To keep the borers from getting in, it will 

 be necessary to go through the orchard each spring and push the wrap- 

 pers into the ground again as the part in contact with soil generally rots 

 ofif in a year. Fasten the wrappers on by wiring near the top and bottom. 

 Wooden, veneer wrappers may be had of basket and box companies for 

 $3.50 to $5.00 per thousand. 



CULTIVATION. 



Give the peach trees clean culture throughout the first season by 

 stirring the soil at feast after each rain. If the land is rich, clean cul- 

 ture may be practiced every year, but it is thin and needs enriching, turn 



