ORCHARDS. «i 



(with, we suppose, bits of red flannel sewed on to designate 

 the exact distances of the trees from each other.) With this 

 he marked the spot where to drive his stakes, and then in- 

 stead of using the notched hoard to determine how to dig the 

 hole and set the tree, he made use of the handle of the spade. 

 Bj laying it down on the four sides of the stake, he marked 

 out a circle with the stake for the center, which was to be the 

 size of the hole dufi;. In this way he marked out the exact 

 place where the tree should stand. 



THE XOTCHED BOARD. 



The notched board for setting trees is prepared as follows : 

 Take an inch board 8 inches wide, bore a IJ or 2 inch 

 auger hole exactly in the centre each way, saw out the piece 

 on one side to the hole in the centre of the board, to corres- 

 pond with the diameter of the hole — then bore an inch hole 

 near each end to pin it to the ground. After the exact place 

 for each tree is designated by a stake, according to Dr. Long's 

 plan, or some other, slip the board on to the stake, with the 

 stake in the notch — then drive a pin in the holes in each end 

 and mark oif the place to be dug or scraped out — say 4 feet 

 square with the stake in the centre — then lift off the board, 

 pull up the stake, and prepare the place for the tree, which 

 should be from 15 to 18 inches deep, and filled to a sufficient 

 height with rich mellow soil. When ready to plant, replace 

 the board on the end pins, and adjust the tree to the notch, 

 which shows the exact place where the stake stood — see that 

 the tree sits firmly on the bottom prepared for it — spread 

 out the roots, having first pared off the wounded ends, and 

 fill in with ^we rich mould — give the tree a slight churning 

 when the roots are covered, and let the tree sit about as deep 

 as it did in the nursery, which can be known by the color of 

 the bark — during the process tramp in the soil gently with the 

 foot. As a general rule about 3 inches of soil should remain 



