96 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
kinds of roots, each having a special office to perform. Those at the 
top just below the crown are the feeders or supply roots. They go 
out horizontally in all directions ten to twelve inches below the sur- 
face of the ground. If the ground is loose and in proper condition, 
there appears to be no limit to their length and the throwing out Of 
new branches, and in time the ground will become a web of roots, 
even if the trees are forty feet apart. Below these are another class 
of roots. They are known as the tap or anchor roots. They pene- 
trate deep into the ground. Their office is to hold the tree firm and 
steadfast under all circumstances, and during a drought to supply 
the necessary moisture. A fruit tree without these roots is liable to 
be blown over or perish during a severe drought. Here in the 
center, between the feeders and anchor roots,is another class known 
as the fruit roots. They are short and stubby, throwing out numer- 
ous branches of the same kind. Such isa short description of the 
roots of fruit trees; and in setting fruit trees we should have these 
roots and the offices they perform constantly in mind and place the 
roots in the ground at a depthand in such manner that they will all 
make rapid growth. To accomplish this, they must neither be set 
too shallow or too deep. If too deep, there will be little growth 
of the tap or anchor roots, if too shallow, little or no growth of 
the feeders. Taking the various kinds of soil into consideration, it 
is a difficult matter to state just how deep a tree should be set. The 
depth must vary in different soils, but in no case so deep that the 
rays of the sun will not warm the soil about the roots and excite 
them to action with the least possible delay. For a fruit tree to re- 
main inactive for weeks after it has been set is a sure indication of 
disease and a forerunner of death inthe end. On an average, two 
inches deeper than a tree stood in the nursery is my rule. 
Trees one and two years old from the graft and three to four feet 
high we consider the very best and most profitable that can be set in 
orchards or anywhere else. Keep this in mind. It is nota large 
quantity of small roots that makes the good tree. Vigorous and 
heavy roots are what gives health, growth and power of endurance 
to all trees. To secure the best results, the roots should be short- 
ened in with a sharp knife just before the trees are set, allowing none 
over five inches long; also,the woodof thelast year’s growth should 
be cut back in the same proportion. If the above directions are care- 
fully complied with, good and strong roots will be the result, to- 
gether with an urusual growth of sound wood. Much care is re- 
quired in setting out trees that each class of roots are in proper 
position. I verily believe that a large proportion of the trees set out 
each year are set back two or three years in their growth by bad set- 
ting, and they never recover a normal condition. The usual way 
that fruit trees are set is to place the roots in the hole, throw in some 
fine soil, then with the hand and fingers place it about the lower 
roots. So far this is correct. The hole is then filled up without any 
regard to the middle or upper roots and is tramped with the feet as 
solid as one or two hundred pounds weight can make it. In this way 
the feeders and fruit roots are either destroyed or pressed down 
around the main root of the tree. When trees are set in this manner, 
