1 88 Fruit 



means of a piece of wire or a knife, though in using 

 a knife care should be taken not to scrape the 

 trees badly. 



An excellent fertilizer for the apple trees consists 

 of five or six shovels of compost mixed with two 

 pounds of muriate of potash. This quantity is 

 sufficient for one tree. 



When apple trees are planted in the spring, es- 

 pecially on light soils, the ground should be kept 

 moist all the time. Mulching the surface with 

 manure will help to conserve moisture and, if rains 

 are not frequent, heavy drenching should be in- 

 dulged in. 



The top roots of apple trees should be not more than 

 five inches under the surface. It is essential that 

 the roots be not planted too deep. The soil should 

 be firmly packed around the tree after planting 

 and it should be a little higher around the base of 

 the tree so that water will not stand in a stagnant 

 pool. 



Young apple trees should always be staked when 

 set in the ground, just as older ones are. The limbs 

 should be wrapped at a convenient place for tying 

 a strong string or small rope, the rope tied around 

 the wrapping, which may be of leather (pieces of 



