THEIR CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



apparently gives the same amount of 

 room between the trees, yet as the 

 trees get older they will come nearer 

 to occupying all the space, conse- 

 quently giving less room for cultiva- 

 tion and harvesting the crops. This is 

 an important item in both the cost of 

 caring for the orchard and in its pro- 

 ductions. We would advise those 

 wishing to plant by the equilateral 

 method to use it with the idea of giv- 

 ing the tree more room rather than to 

 get more trees to the acre, that is, if 

 bv planting 22 feet apart by the square 

 method, which would give you 90 

 trees to the acre, the planter could use 

 the equilateral triangle method and 

 plant them 23 feet 6 inches apart, thus 

 giving the tree an additional foot and 

 a half more space. 



In laying out the ground be careful 

 to get the rows straight and all the 

 same distance apart, then the trees 

 will line from every direction. Noth- 

 ing so mars the appearance of an or- 

 chard as crooked and irregular rows. 

 It is just as easy to have them plant- 

 ed straight if a little care is used. 



After the tract has been properly 

 staked, the holes for the trees should 

 be dug that is, provided the trees' are 

 ready for delivery, as it is best not to 

 have the holes open too long before 

 planting on account of the ground dry- 

 ing out. The holes should be dug not 

 less than 18 inches deep and 18 inches 

 in diameter. This allows plenty of 

 room to work the soil around the roots 

 of the tree, or around the ball if balled 

 trees are used. With balled trees it is 

 best not to dig the holes too deep, as 

 the tree is sure to settle when the wa- 

 ter is applied. This will necessitate 

 raising the tree again. In cases where 

 it is necessary to dig the holes deeper 

 on account of blasting for hard pan, 

 the soil should be settled in the bot- 

 tom of the hole with water before 

 planting. 



Selecting the Trees 



The beginner should exercise care in 

 selecting his trees. While chances of 

 getting trees that are not true to name 

 are not as great as in former years, yet 

 it behooves the planter to buy his 

 stock of an established nurseryman, 

 where every care is exercised to prop- 

 erly grow the tree. He is not only 

 sure of getting a tree that has been 

 properly grown, but if a mistake oc- 

 curs in the variety or name, the re- 



sponsible nurseryman is always ready 

 to rectify the error. A few cents dif- 

 ference in the price of a tree is a small 



Tree trimmed ready for packing. 



item when you take into consideration 

 the difference between poorly grown 

 trees and good ones. 



Whether to plant balled or naked 

 root trees is a matter that should re- 

 ceive consideration. We advise plant- 



