ORCHARDS 



175 



Packing About the Roots. The holes dug for the 

 trees should be a little larger than the roots seem 

 to need, so that they .can be placed straight. Since 

 the roots feed the tree, it is very important to pack 

 the soil well about them, so they can get plenty of 

 liquid food from it. The upper roots should be 

 raised until the soil is packed firmly under them. 

 Roots should never be crowded together, but spread 

 out naturally to grow 

 as they will. In the 

 bottom of the hole 

 the soil must be 

 packed very tight, 

 but the top four 

 inches should be loose 

 for a dust mulch. A 

 common mistake is to 

 pack the soil tightly 

 on top and leave it 

 loose underneath. 

 This brings the mois- 

 ture to the surface 

 and causes the young 

 trees to die of thirst. 



TiUingthe Orchard. ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ 



The old idea that or- 

 chards would take care of themselves after planting 

 is a thing of the past. Now the successful fruit grow- 

 ers till their orchards as regularly as they do their 

 crops. Trees make nearly all their growth early in 



