72 An American Fruit-Farm 



Most men are in a hurry to get the fruit-farm 

 into profitable bearing, and are tempted to select 

 for planting stock that is too old. Small young 

 stock is best : grape roots one year from the cutting ; 

 trees one year, in some varieties two years, from 

 the bud. The shock of replanting is always great, 

 — ^much greater than we realize; therefore plant 

 young, vigorous roots. Vitality is the main thing. 

 Bruised roots and rootlets are gateways to disease ; 

 therefore make a clean cut with a sharp knife, 

 leaving the end of the root, or the end of the 

 branch or twig smooth. It rapidly heals over, in 

 health, unless the wound be a laceration, big 

 and rough. Many trim the top but ignore the 

 bruised and broken roots. In handling stock 

 from the ntirsery, keep it covered, especially 

 the roots, from sun and wind. Either will dry out 

 and kill the rootlets, and these are the mouths 

 and stomachs of the tree below ground, — the 

 counterparts of leaf and twig in air. Trim 

 after the tree or vine is set, when you can see it 

 from all sides; otherwise you may have cut off 

 the wrong branches. The tree is to be kept ever 

 in balance and its poise cannot be known till 

 it is properly set. 



As you would first work your corn-field before 

 planting com, so will you first work and lay out 

 your land for orchard or vineyard. The careful 

 man, in laying out a large tract for orchard or vine- 

 yard, may employ a surveyor, for tree rows and 

 grape rows; the orchard and vineyard sections 



