38 



highest in the middle of the hole, to bring the level about right 

 for the roots to be spread out by the planter. Three men will be 

 found the best number to plant : two shovellers and a planter. 



Should manure be applied at planting, it should either be put 

 deep down below the roots, or it should be afterwards spread on 

 the surface of the soil around the tree. After planting deciduous- 

 trees of every variety, excepting walnuts, they should be cut 

 down 15 or 18 inches from the ground and all the lateral branches 

 should be cut off close to the stem, but not so close that the buds 

 that are often to be found at the base of such lateral (/>., against 

 the main stem) are cut off, as should this be done no bud can 

 force itself out from such place, and should all such buds be 

 carried away in removing the lateral, a badly balanced or dead 

 tree would result. 



All young trees must be carefully examined about every two- 

 weeks during the first three months of the first season's growth,, 

 and all buds making a growth along the low^er ten inches of the 

 stem should be rubbed off with the fingers, as the object in view 

 is to iorce out the laterals from the upper buds of the single stem. 

 In order to make the orchard of a uniform shape the rubbing off 

 of these buds requires to be done intelligently ; on arrival at each 

 tree the buds that are already forced out, or likely to be forced 

 out, should be noted, the object in view being to allow three or 

 four of such buds only to remain, and these should be retained 

 in such a position as to evenly distribute the future main limbs 

 around the tree so that the head shall be thoroughly balanced. 



Another point to be noticed is that the nurseryman's labels,. 

 which are very often carelessly overlooked, are not eating into- 

 the tree ; if they are tightening they should be freed, in fact it is 

 better at as early a date as possible after planting to make a 

 ground plan of all orchards and take off the labels ; a constant 

 source of danger is thus removed. 



The main work in every orchard during the first year is the 

 working of the soil by ploughing and loosening with a cultivator 

 which should be constantly going in order to keep the trees free 

 from weeds, &c. Should irrigation be needed it must be done 

 with caution, and after every such irrigation the soil shall be 

 worked with the cultivator. The soil must never be allowed to 

 cake round a young tree, one must also never forget to trim the- 

 roots of all trees before planting them. They should be cut from, 

 the centre outwards wiih a sharp knife. 



In conclusion, keep a close and continuous watch over the 

 young trees for insects, caterpillars of sorts, and calandras, &c., &c. ^ 

 should they be found in any quantity a daily hand picking will 

 be quite necessary. 



