FRUIT ON THE FARM. 259 



well after the trees are set out without injuring them. If sur- 

 face drainage is needed, as suggested previously, dig a shallow 

 hole, or set the trees on the surface and raise the earth around 

 them. Ordinarily, however, you will need to dig a hole two 

 spits deep, and much labor can be saved by proper management. 

 For small trees dig the hole two feet in diameter, and lay 

 the surface soil to one side, then go another spit deep and put 

 this subsoil on the opposite side of the hole. This hole will 

 usually be six or eight inches deeper than you will want to set 

 the tree. Now, with the spade cut down the edges of the hole, 

 and fill the bottom with the soil as you widen the hole, and you 

 will have a bed of good, mellow surface soil to set your tree on, 

 and a hole three or three and a half feet wide. Spread out the 

 roots of the tree so they will be in a natural position, and sift 

 down among them well fined earth from the surface soil. Churn 

 the tree up and down slightly to make sure that all the intersti- 

 ces are filled, and when well covered press firmly on all sides 

 with the foot. Finally, put the subsoil on the surface around 

 the tree. If there are any sods place them inverted around the 

 outer edge of the hole, and see that they are covered so that 

 they can not sprout and they will decay and furnish just the 

 plant food the trees need. It will take time and labor to plant 

 a tree well, but the future growth will repay it. An orchard 

 not only presents a better appearance if the rows are straight, 

 but it will be easier to cultivate between the trees. It is easy 

 to set the stakes straight, but after the holes are dug, if the 

 trees vary a few inches from the center of the holes, or the hole 

 is not dug so that the stake was the center, the result is a crooked 

 row. A very simple device, which can be made in a few min- 

 utes, will enable you to set the trees exactly where the stake 

 stood. It is shown in the cut. It is simply a piece of board, 

 five or six feet long, with a hole 



near each end and a notch cut out 



of the side. When you are ready A TREK PLANTER. 



to dig the hole lay your board down so that the stake will fit in 

 the notch. Then drive a small stake through each of the holes 

 in the board, take up your board and center stake and dig 



