304 ANNUAL SEPORT 



orous climate a little bruise will work much damage to a tree. Should 

 there be auy bruised cover with wax, the preparation of which I will 

 mention further on. 



In planting apple trees plant early in the spring, as soon as places 

 can be dug for the roots. It is very important that the tree should 

 get a good healthy growth the first year, so that it may start life with 

 a good reputation. This is as necessary to a tree as to a man. If the 

 top makes a good growth the root will also. Plant early so that the 

 ground will be settled and the roots ready to lay hold of the ground 

 at the first opportunity. Unless the soil is wet by recent rains use 

 plenty of water, so that the soil will be so thoroughly wet that the 

 earth will settle around every fiberous root. One advantage in the 

 use of \vater is that the soil settles immediately, without waiting for 

 rains which may be long delayed. 



Plant each tree so that the top of the root will be about six or 

 eight inches below the level after the loose earth settles. In light 

 soil, 10 to 12 inches. Frost and air penetrate sandy soil deeper than 

 heavy soil, and the mechanical action of air with frost is very inju- 

 rious to the roots of trees in dry soil. Set each tree leaning slightly 

 toward the 2 o'clock sun. If you use water in planting do not fill the 

 hole quite full of earth. The next day fill in with soil without water 

 and press it down firmly. Then throw about three inches of loose 

 soil on top. The roots of each tree should be straightened to their 

 natural position; the ends of each bruised root be cut smooth with a 

 sharp knife. Nothing but well pulverized soil and water should be 

 used in planting the tree. If the tree has branches place the longest 

 and heaviest branch to the southwest side of the tree; keeping in 

 mind that the top of the future tree must be more than half on the 

 south side of the trunk. The tendancy of a tree in this climate is to 

 grow toward the northeast, and you will be obliged to keep a sharp 

 lookout every year in order to direct the growth of the tree's center 

 and south limbs, by cutting back the north limbs. It will be some- 

 times necessary to drive a stake and tie the leader and largest south 

 limb to it, in order that it may be started in the right direction. Re- 

 member, that strict attention to these little things is often] the divid- 

 ing line between success and failure. 



Why do we wish the tree trained toward the southwest? Because 

 the unbroken rays of the sun shining on the body and forks of the tree 

 is one of the most injurious things that can happen to it. And the 

 easiest and cheapest way to prevent it is by making the top low and 

 thick on that side. Five minutes work on each tree now spent in 



