ISA 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



to the very top of the hole. Many trees are doutless ruined by over 

 zeal in this respect. 



The shovel has been mentioned frequently as the tool to be used 

 in planting. Where the soil is deeply plowed, well worked, and free 

 from stone, the shovel is the most rapid tool. Under other condi- 

 tions the long-handled spade, and in some cases the long-handled 

 spading fork, serves admirably in loosening the soil at the bottom of 

 the holes and in breaking up lumps while filling in. One man with a 

 shovel or spade, and the other with the fork, make a good combina- 

 tion in this respect. 



As a rule the young tree is planted so as to stand upright, but 

 it is reasonable to give it a slight slant into the prevailing wind if 

 older trees indicate that they are thrown out of plumb by it. 



Planting in a Furrow. A practice which has been largely fol- 

 lowed in the Sacramento Valley and which attains greatest speed 

 and cheapness consists in laying off as described in the preceding 

 chapter, and then proceeding with a heavy listing plow, followed 

 by a subsoil plow in the same furrow. The trees are then rapidly 

 set with the least digging. This is all done before the field is plowed. 

 Plowing immediately follows planting. The advantages of this 

 method are ease of work on firm ground instead of a plowed surface, 

 and escape of injury to this surface by men and teams in planting 

 after plowing. It does not, however, prepare the land so well as 

 deep working before laying out. 



RANDOM SUGGESTIONS 



The roots of every tree should be examined before planting. All 

 large root ends should have a fresh, clean cut with a sharp knife or 

 shears. Make a slanting cut with the cut surface on the underside 

 of the root. Where a root is mangled or bruised, it should in most 

 cases be cut back to a sound place. 



The wound made by the cutting away of the seedling stock above 

 the bud should be at the north or northeast, in order that this weak 

 point may be shaded as much as possible from the afternoon sun. 



If the roots of young trees grow more to one side than the other, 

 place the strongest roots toward the prevailing wind. 



The use of water to settle the earth around the roots is some- 

 times desirable in sections where the rainfall is light or uncertain. 

 Pour in four or five gallons from the water wagon after the hand 

 work in spreading the roots and in pressing the soil under and 

 around them has been done and the hole partly filled. When the 

 water has soaked away, fill the hole with fine earth without tramp- 

 ing. In irrigated districts leading the water along the line of trees 

 in a furrow to settle the ground at planting is a good practice. It 

 is almost essential in the planting of evergreen trees, which are best 

 moved during the dry season. In early planting in parts of the State 

 where the rainfall is abundant, there may be no need of water- 

 settling ; puddling the roots, or dipping them in thin mud and plant- 

 ing them with this mud adhering, is governed by much the same 



