THE FARMER'S ORCHARD 



143 



Fig. 56. — Plan of tree at planting time.- 

 U. S Dept. of Agriculture. 



Avitli manure. Do not pile the manure about the trunk. Place 

 manure on soil where water drips from the foliage, for this is 

 where many of the feeding 

 roots are located. Sod, 

 mulch, cut cover crop and 

 place material over surface 

 soil where the water drips 

 from the leaves. Usually no 

 fertilizer is necessary where 

 the sod mulch method is prac- 

 ticed. 



Fertilizer for clean culture. 

 — Three-year-old trees: One 

 l)ound dried hlood, one 2:>ound 

 l)one meal, one-half pound ni- 

 trate of soda iwY tree. In- 

 crease a little each year. Sta- 

 ble manure is the best fertil- 

 izer. 



Fertilizer for twenty- to 

 twenty-five-year-old trees : 

 Four hundred pounds basic 

 slag and two hundred pounds sulphate of potash. 



Prune a little each 

 year. — -Do not leave 

 stubs. Use only sharp 

 saw with small teeth. 

 Paint all wounds over 

 one inch in diameter. 

 Do not over-prune, 

 but keep head open 

 so there may be a 

 free circulation of air 

 through the limbs. 

 Never allow limbs to 

 crowd, rub or cross. 

 Thinning. — Thin in 

 when fruit is 

 size of a quarter. 

 Leave one apple to a 

 spur. The vitality 

 vrr. 1^7 T>^ t ^ t^ . .1 • ., tliat wouM uaturallv 



tiG. 57. — Plan of top after one years growth in the . i r. " 



orchard.— [/. s. Depf. of' Ayricidliirv. gO mto the SCed 01 a 



July, 



