Al'IM.K UKM\VI.\<, IN r \UKnKNIA. 45 



rest of tlic holt 1 . It is always well to pour a bucket of water into the 

 hole before it has been entirely tilled, so that the tree may have plenty 

 of moisture ami also that the soil may be better parked about the roots. 

 After watering, the hole should be tilled in completely. 



IRRIGATING THE YOUNG ORCHARD. 



The first on.- or two irrigations after planting may be done in fur- 

 rows made previously, and in which trees have been set. While this 

 method insures an ahundanee of water at the start, it may result in 

 damage because of the baking of the soil about the trees and should 

 not be continued for any length of time after the trees are set. It is 

 much better as a general rule to irrigate by means of smaller furrows 

 on either side of the rows, containing small heads of water run long 

 enough to thoroughly saturate tin 1 soil surrounding the trees. The 

 tendency to bake will not be nearly so great as when the ground is 

 actually Hooded. As soon as possible after irrigation, the cultivator, 

 spring tooth harrow, disc harrow, or other suitable implement should 

 be used, so that the moisture may be better conserved and so that all 

 tendency of the soil toward baking, may be eliminated. In sections 

 where irrigation is not practiced the cultivation recommended to follow 

 irrigation, should be conscientiously done to conserve the moisture so 

 sary for the proper growth and development of the trees. 



PROTECTORS FOR YOUNG TREES. 



Young trees are always liable to attack by rabbits and other rodents, 

 and are also subject to sun scald during the summer season. As a protec- 

 tion against both the rodents and sun scald various shields are placed 

 about the trunks. Sometimes a cylinder of heavy paper is used, some- 

 times wire screening, probably best of all are wooden protectors made 

 very thin from some pliable wood. These should be left the natural 

 color and never painted black as sun scald may be worse if black pro- 

 lei-tors are used than with none at all. A common lime whitewash is a 

 splendid sun scald preventive. 



