STARTING THE ORCHARD 43 



notched at either end and in the middle. Before the 

 hole is dug the jack is laid on the surface of the 

 ground with the middle notch resting against the 

 stake where the tree is to be set, the ground having 

 been carefully staked out in advance. Small stakes 

 are then placed in the two end notches. The jack is 

 removed, the middle stake taken out and the hole dug. 

 The jack is then put back into its original position 

 with the two ends fitting upon the end stakes. The 

 tree is then put into the hole with the trunk or collar 

 coming into the notch in the middle of the jack, so 

 that the tree is held exactly where the original stake 

 was taken out. The roots of the tree are then cov- 

 ered, the jack is removed and the planting is complete. 

 This manipulation is not fast enough, however, for 

 the rushing business methods of modern orchard 

 planting. The plan adopted is more commonly about 

 as follows : After the land is properly prepared for 

 the trees, the rows are measured off on all four sides 

 of each rectangular field. Good, tall stakes are set to 

 sight by. It is best also to set a row of stakes across 

 the middle of the field in each direction, being careful 

 that the stakes are accurately aligned with the corre- 

 sponding stakes at the four sides. Next a steady 

 team is hitched to a plow a double mold-board or 

 listing plow is best and a deep dead-furrow is turned 

 out along each line, in one direction only, across the 

 field. It is often necessary or advisable to run the 

 plow twice or even oftener, in a furrow in order to 

 secure depth. A second time through the furrow us- 

 ually helps also to straighten out small irregularities. 

 The ground is now marked in one direction and the 

 stakes which are still standing enable a planter with a 



