228 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



the soil around the roots. If the soil is thrown in on top 

 of the roots and then merely stepped on, there will be a 

 hollow space under the center of the tree. The soil should 

 be packed under and around the roots firmly. The upper 

 layers of roots should be lifted up, so that they will come 

 out in their natural direction, with the soil below them 

 packed firmly. The last four inches of soil should be left 

 loose to absorb the rain and act as a mulch. Com- 

 monly, trees are set in exactly the opposite manner 

 loose soil at the bottom and packed soil on top. It must 

 be remembered that roots take up their water by osmosis. 

 Only when they are in most intimate contact with the 

 soil particles are they able to absorb the soil water. 



If the region is very dry, the soil should be kept stirred 

 or mulched, so that no weeds can grow. 



214. Tillage of Orchards. Formerly, people thought 

 that orchards were able to take care of themselves; but, 

 with the advent of commercial orcharding, many men 

 have come to till the orchard as regularly as they do the 

 other crops. 



Trees make nearly all of their growth before the sum- 

 mer months. It is at this season of the year that they 

 require the most food and moisture. In New Jersey, in 

 latitude 40 30', the writer found that nearly all the or- 

 chard trees had completed their twig growth by the last 

 of June. In this latitude, tillage should begin as early as 

 possible, and should stop by the middle of July. A cover 

 crop may then be sown, or the weeds may be allowed 

 to grow. 



In tilling orchards, great care must be taken not to 

 bark the trees. Such injuries are very serious, while the 



