76 ORCHARDS. • 



leader itself must be shortened back one half or more. When 

 trees have been dried or injured much by exposure, the prun- 

 ing must be closer than if in good order. 



Dwarf Standard Trees and Dwarf Bushes must be 

 pruned as recommended for standards, aiming at producing 

 a round, well proportioned head, with the main branches reg- 

 ularly distributed, and far enough apart to admit air enough 

 to all parts. 



Geartixg Trees intended for Pyramids. — Some of 

 these may have a few side branches, the smallest of v\'hich 

 should be cut clean away, reserving only the strongest and 

 best placed. In other respects they will be pruned as directed 

 for -trees of two years' growth. 



Those having no side branches should be cut back so far as 

 to insure the production of a tier of branches within six inches 

 or less of the ground. A strong yearling four to six feet, 

 may be cut back about half, and the weaker ones more than 

 that. It' is better to cut too low than not low enough, for if 

 the first tier of branches be not low enough, the pyramidical 

 form cannot afterwards be perfected. 



Planting. — Although very full directions for planting will 

 be given in the course of this work, yet, the views of the ex- 

 cellent author we are quoting on this subject, are so simple 

 and valuable, that, to omit them here would lessen the 

 importance of this part of the work of the orchardist. 



" Dig holes in the first place, large enough to admit the 

 roots of the tree to spread out in their natural position. 

 Then having the tree pruned as above directed, let one per- 

 son hold it in an upright position, and the other shovel in the 

 earth, carefully putting the finest and best from the surface 

 in among the roots, filling every interstice, and bringing every 

 root in contact with the soil. When the earth is nearly filled 

 in, a pail of water may be thrown on to settle and wash in the 

 earth around the roots ; then fill in the remainder, and tread 

 gently with the foot. The use of water is seldom nece'ssary, 

 except in dry weather, early in Fall or late in Spring. Guard 

 agaii^st planting too deep ; the trees, after the ground settles, 

 should stand in this respect as chey did in the nursery. Trees 



