362 



THE IEEIGA TION A GE. 



they are not always able to put into prac- 

 tice improved methods of cultivation. 

 There is scarcely a plant which does not 

 thrive much better in a loose, deep soil 

 than in a shallow, compact one, but in no 

 case is this fact susceptible of more ready 

 verification than in the corn plant. 



' 'Water is held in the soil between the 

 minute particles of earth. If these part- 

 icles be pressed together compactly there 

 is no space between them for water. Com- 

 pact subsoils are but little permeable to 

 water, compared with the same when brok- 

 en up, pulverized and mellowed. The one 

 is porous and drinks in moisture like a 

 sponge, the other absorbs it, but in small 

 quantities, and readily parts with the same 

 on the application of heat. The one takes 

 it from the air, which passes freely through 

 if, the other, impervious to the air, or any 

 slightly powerful influences, remains un- 

 changed. Undrained soils, as we have 

 shown, become compact after heavy rains 

 by the evaporation of the water with 

 which they are saturated; drained soils, on 

 the contrary, become more porous from 

 the filtration of the same amount of mois- 

 ture into the drains below. Draining 

 prevents injury from drought by giving 

 a better growth to plants in the early 

 summer. Seed sown on any soil contain- 

 ing stagnant wator send no roots below 

 that water line, but may for a whilo grow 

 from roots near the surface. But let 

 drought come, the water line sinks rapid- 

 ly; the roots, having no depth to seek 

 moisture below, they are parched and 

 burned, and without rain the crop is irre- 

 parably injured. On a draiued and deep- 

 ened soil the roots go down without ob- 

 struction, and are thus prepared to with- 

 stand the effects of the long continued dry 

 weather so often experienced. That they 

 will do so a thousand facts in the experi- 

 ence of a farmer will prove to h;m that 

 observes them." 



SETTING FRUIT TREES. 

 The season is again at hand for planting 

 trees, shrubs, vines and plants, and no 



time should be lost in preparing all the re 

 quisities so as to be in readiness for plant- 

 ing at the first opportunity. Many persons 

 fail to understand the importance of hav- 

 ing the soil in thorough tilth at planting 

 time. The lifetime of a tree or plant 

 depends materially on a scientific system 

 of planting, and the first five years after 

 planting determines the existence and 

 profitableness of the orchard or vineyard. 



Select the location for a new orchard 

 with care. See that the soil conditions 

 suited to the nature and requiremerts of 

 each variety are present. Give the apple 

 the loamy soil and the peach, pear, cherry 

 and plum the thinner or poorer soil. The 

 dwarf pear require a good garden loam. 

 Plow the ground deep, harrow and level 

 and mark off for the trees accurately. Dig 

 the holes, or if planting largely, four fur- 

 rows may be turned apart with the plow, 

 leaving an open furrow for the line of trees. 

 Have the trees trenched, each variety sep- 

 arately, near where they are to be planted. 

 Take ten or twelve from the trench at a 

 time, giving protection to the roots by 

 covering with damp burlap or old carpet. 

 Cut back the multilated roots to sound, 

 healthy wood. Use a sharp knife, cutting 

 from the under side. Set apple trees one 

 to two inches deeper than they stood in 

 the nursery row, leaning ten to fifteen de- 

 grees to the southwest. Have the top 

 soil thoroughly fineil or pulverized. Fill 

 in by sprinkling on and through the roots, 

 packing in with the fingers. When the 

 roots are well covered, the dirt should be 

 well firmed with the feet so as to leave no 

 air space about or near the roots. If the 

 soil is too dry to supply proper moisture, 

 then water. One to three gallons may be 

 poured in the hole after the roots are cov- 

 ered, and after the water has settled out 

 of sight, continue the filling and firming. 



Peach, plum and pear should be plant- 

 ed three to four inches deeper in the or- 

 chard than they stood in the nursery, as 

 this will bring the budded junction under 

 ground, and in time the bud stock will cast 

 roots aud give support and vitality. After 



