364 ANNUAL REPORT 



fill the hole rounding full with dirt. After the ground is frozen 

 a little, cover over with straw to prevent freezing. Early in the 

 spring lift up the tops of the trees, leaving the lower half still in 

 the soil. 



About the first of May is the time to plant. The first thing t6 

 do is to dig the holes. Do not be afraid of getting them too 

 large. Dig them large enough that the roots may in no way 

 be cramped, and deep enough that the tree may set from three 

 to four inches deeper than it stood in the nursery. 



Before planting trim off all roots that have been mutilated, 

 as such roots are apt to rot, and by so doing, make the tree 

 sickly and retard its growth. Place the tree in the hole leaning 

 towards the southwest on a slant of thirty degrees. Spread out 

 the roots well that they may not only grow in their natural way 

 and have a large tract of soil to derive sustenance from, but that 

 they may also act as a brace to the tree against the twistings 

 of our storms. Manure should never be placed in the holes un- 

 dertthe roots of trees, as it is apt to give the tree a very rapid 

 growth which can not ripen up before frost and consequently 

 will be winter killed. Only damp and mellow soil should be 

 used, and plenty of water, say from a pail and a half to two 

 pails to a tree. So much water is used to settle the earth firmly 

 about the roots of the tree, and saves a great deal of tramping, 

 and by settling the earth about the roots leaves no room for 

 small spaces being !eft, which would eventually allow of the roots 

 drying up. Never water the trees after the day of planting, as 

 the water, acted upon by the sun, only crusts the surface 

 of the soil and does not penetrate to the roots. A far 

 better plan is to place a quantity of short wet straw about the 

 tree, about six inches in depth, and covering a circle about the 

 tree with a diameter of from five to six feet. This will keep in 

 the moisture and at the same time save a great deal of unneces- 

 sary labor. 



CULTIVATION. 



Do not as is the general custom plant trees in a hay field. If 

 a man desires fruit for himself and family only, and is indifferent 

 as to the time he gets it, and indifferent about the quality and 

 quantity, then he may plant his trees in grass land and keep them 

 in that condition; but if he intends to make the business of fruit 

 growing a dependence for his living, he would hardly be satisfied 



