ORCHARDS 



227 



ORCHARDS 



213. Setting Trees. In digging, the roots of trees are 

 often broken and the bark at the ends is often torn off. 

 Before planting, all such roots should be cut back, making 

 clean wounds that will heal readily. The more roots on a 

 tree the better. At best, a transplanted tree retains only 

 a small fraction of its roots. 



On the other hand, the branches should ordinarily be 

 cut back or removed. The tree will soon be larger if this 

 is done. People usually 

 leave too much top and too 

 little roots. It is well to 

 remember that roots can 

 quickly grow a top, but 

 that a top can never take 

 the place of roots. If too 

 much top is left, the leaves 

 will dry the tree to death. 



Trees should not be 

 allowed to lie around in 

 the sun and wind before 

 planting. The roots should 

 never be allowed to dry more than is necessary. If the 

 roots are coated with clay, they should be dipped in 

 water before planting. 



Holes should be a little larger than the roots require, 

 so that it will not be necessary to coil the roots into the 

 hole. Trees should usually be planted about two inches 

 deeper than they grew. 



The most important point in planting a tree is firming 



FIG. 115. Peach trees pruned for 

 planting, a, unpruned; b, slightly pruned; 

 c, four-inch stubs left; d, one-inch stubs; 

 e, pruned to a whip. Trees that were 

 pruned like d and e when set, were largest 

 in the fall. 



