This guard not only prevents the mice 

 and other vermin from destroying young 

 trees, but prevents the terrible havoc from 

 plows, drags, whiffletrees, etc., by 

 thoughtless teamsters. These instructions 

 apply to the planting of all trees, but it 

 is supposed you have selected some favor- 

 able situation for your orchard. 



LOW LANDS 



are not favorable places for fruit trees. 

 On average hillsides, the higher the bet- 

 ter. Peaches should not be planted on 

 land sloping to the east or south. In 1885 

 the weather became warm in the latter 

 part of February. By the nth of March 

 peaches were in full bloom. By the 22nd 

 of March the mercury stood 8 below zero. 

 The blossoms were not only killed, but 

 the bark of the trees ripped open. This 

 happened in the upper part of Central 

 Ohio. While there may be some modifi- 

 cations in the various parts of so large a 

 country as the United States, yet it is well 

 to plant with a view of holding the buds 

 back in the spring. In the regions of the 

 great lakes the low temperature of the 

 water will affect the temperature for miles 

 inland, and planting on low lands has 

 been a partial success. 



Take this as a general guide, viz. : Set 

 cherries on land sloping to the east or 

 south; plums and peaches on the hillside 

 sloping to the west or north, or on a hill- 

 top. To make sure of success 

 with the pear, plant it on land 

 slanting toward the north. Ap- 

 ples are comparatively safe in 

 any of the foregoing situations, 

 but cannot be relied upon, as 

 before stated, in low, cold or 

 wet lands. On sandy or gravely 

 soil it will pay yon well to help 

 your trees to get a start. To 

 accomplish this, dig a hole 6 

 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. 

 Procure a lot of sod and pitch it 

 into the hole and tramp it down, 

 about half filling it (there is no 

 better plant food than rotted 

 sods), then plant the tree as before directed. Of course, in rich, deep soils, this is not 

 necessary. Those owning property on low lands can hold their trees back in spring if 

 they will keep everything scraped away till the earth has frozen 6 inches or more. Then 

 cover up with ashes, sawdust, coarse manure or anything that will hold the frost. 



Photo 87. 



42 



