54 MAKING THE ORCHARD. 



be soaked in order to grow, natural moisture is 

 enough. 



The objection to this process of "puddling" is 

 that in most soils the ground that is wet becomes 

 a ball, or like a sun dried brick, it contracts when 

 drying and cleaves away from the surrounding 

 earth, thus breaking the connection, and the capil- 

 lary attraction. Some soils will not do this, but 

 it is unnecessary in any case, and objectionable in 

 most cases. 



In this connection let me say that the plan of 

 "watering the trees" after planting is of no avail 

 whatever as commonly practiced, and not advisable 

 in any case where good cultivation, or in its absence 

 good thorough mulching, can be given. To pour a 

 pail of water on the ground at the foot of a tree to 

 water it is much like going upon the roof and pour- 

 ing water there to water the houseplants inside. 

 Even if a sag or trough is made to prevent the 

 water from running away, a single pailful will do 

 no good. It will soak in but a few inches and then 

 when dry the ground is left hard and will crack and 

 become a perfect chimney through which the mois- 

 ture from below will be drawn up and thrown off. 



In case trees are to be planted where mulch or 

 cultivating is undesirable, as in a lawn, watering 

 will be generally necessary. Bore two holes down 

 with a post auger about 18 inches from, and each 

 side of the tree, as deep as the tree sets; fill these 

 with coarse manure, hay or straw and fill occasion- 

 ally with water during the summer. Notice closely, 



