50 MAKING THE ORCHARD. 



absorbing the water and food from the soil in con. 

 tact, and sending it up toward the buds. If this 

 has been omitted in the fall, cut as directed before 

 planting. It is also well to head the top back to 

 some extent, especially if the roots appear to be 

 short or poor; the poorer the roots the more the 

 top should be cut back. It is never advisable to 

 cut back so far as to remove two year old wood at 

 planting. Should there be a limb of such wood 

 that ought to come off, let it be till the next year. 

 The tree will then have more vitality to withstand 

 the surgical operation. This subject will also be 

 further treated under the head of pruning. 



If trees are procured in the fall they should 

 not be planted till spring except below 40 

 latitude. They should be carefully unpacked, 

 the bundles cut apart and the trees buried in 

 a slanting position that will cover the roots 

 about 1 8 inches, while the tops are barely 

 covered. If the tree is good and the work done 

 right there will be no material loss. 



It matters not just what form is used in covering 

 these trees, if we arrive at the same result, but 

 there is a practice where a large number are to be 

 buried that will save much work, and will be 

 described. 



L,et us suppose we have 100 or more trees, we 

 will lay off a strip of ground about 4 feet wide, and 

 as long as is necessary. We will suppose that the 

 strip lays east and west (but it does not matter) 

 and we stand spade in hand at the east end, facing 



