34 HORTICULTURE BY IRRIGATION. 



small gardens the line and spade would have to be used instead of the plow. 



Go down well in digging holes, and make the excavation broad and 

 deep, and have the soil mellow, so as to give the roots of the tree ample 

 room. Trenching or sub-soiling may precede this preparation, but it 

 should be understood that there is some hazard in highly enriching the 

 soil for young fruit trees. It often forces them into a strong growth 

 which a succeeding unfavorable winter finds immature, and serious injury 

 results. This caution is dropped here, but manuring will be referred to 

 again further on. 



Before setting the trees, pare off smoothly all torn or mutilated roots 

 by a slanting cut with a knife, then place the tree in the hole at about the 

 same depth that it stood in the nursery row, if anything, in this climate, a 

 trifle deeper ; spread out the roots in their natural position. Be sure to 

 have the soil in the bottom of the hole moist and mellow. When the 

 tree is placed in position (and if the site is level and exposed to the direct 

 rays of the sun, it is well to incline the top a little towards the South- 

 west) fill in around the roots with fine soil, and occasionally raise the tree 

 a trifle so that the soil may be well worked in. As the dirt is being 

 thrown on, press firmly with the foot until the hole is filled up. If 

 water for irrigation is not immediately at hand, it is well after the hole is 

 partially filled to pour in a half-bucketful or so. But this need not be 

 done if water can be turned in the laterals and allowed to saturate the 

 ground, and thus fully settle the soil around the roots. Very cold water, 

 however, should be used sparingly, if at all, where it comes in contact 

 with roots of any kind. 



In transplanting or removing trees from nursery, never expose the 

 roots to the sun or dry winds; keep them moist at all times. This is a 

 very essential precaution. Right here the first fatal mistake is often 

 made in handling trees and plants. When the planting is done, it is 

 often beneficial to place around the tree a liberal coating of coarse litter 

 or manure, but never permit green manure to be placed in contact with 

 the trunk of the tree. 



PRUNING. 



A young tree that has been properly grown in the nursery will need 

 very little pruning at the time of transplanting. As already stated, in 

 transplanting all mutilated roots should be dressed by cutting back to the 

 sound wood with a smooth, slanting cut, "on the under side of the root." 



