76 Peach-Growing 



The furrow or trench should be wide and deep enough to 

 receive the roots readily. The roots of the trees are placed 

 in the trench with the trunks extending at right angles to 

 it and across the sloping or "land" side of the trench. If 

 the trees are tied in bundles, as is often the case, they should 

 be separated, at least the lower portions of the bundles should 

 be released, so that the roots can be parted sufficiently to 

 permit working finely pulverized soil very thoroughly in 

 among them. Otherwise, air spaces will exist and the roots 

 are likely to dry out to a serious extent. 



If a large number of trees are to be heeled in at the same 

 place, it will usually be convenient to place them in closely 

 adjacent rows. ^Vhen this is done, the trees in one row, for 

 convenience, may be covered with the soil which is removed 

 in opening the next adjacent trench. 



Sometimes it is necessary to leave trees heeled in over 

 winter. It is then well to place them in a nearly horizontal 

 position, so that the entire portion of the trunks and even 

 some of the larger branches can be readily covered with soil 

 for the purpose of protection. Such protection is of par- 

 ticular importance in the colder peach-growing districts. 

 The soil should be made rather firm about the trunks and 

 roots, so that harbors for mice will be reduced to a minimum, 

 as well as to give the best possible protection to the roots. 

 In completing the heeling in, soil to a depth of several inches 

 should be heaped over the roots. 



Perhaps the one exception to the rule for the immediate 

 unpacking of trees on arrival at their destination is when 

 the shipment has been made during a period of low tempera- 

 tures and the trees have been frozen in transit. The better 

 course to follow in such a case is to place the box or bale 

 without unpacking in a cellar where there is no direct sun- 



