66 THE AMERICAN PEACH ORCHARD 



believes that it is entitled to great respect ; and this 

 seems to be the general attitude of the best men who 

 have investigated the subject. 



The trees should not be exposed to sun and air 

 any longer than necessary during the planting proc- 

 ess. As fast as they are prepared for planting they 

 should be placed in a tub or a barrel of water, to 

 which may well be added a considerable amount of 

 loose soil. The tub of water, therefore, becomes a 

 tub of thin mud. This mud adheres and effectually 

 prevents the roots of the trees from drying out dur- 

 ing the planting process. The tub or barrel can be 

 put on a stoneboat or a suitable wagon and car- 

 ried into the field. This makes a convenient man- 

 ner of distributing the trees about the field for plant- 

 ing. 



The work of planting can be done very rapidly if 

 the men are properly assigned and given a little 

 preliminary training. The work should become al- 

 most automatic. The planting gang should consist 

 of three men, one to carry the trees and two to use 

 shovels. The two men with shovels will sight the 

 tree into its position, one sighting off in one direc- 

 tion and the other in the cross direction. While the 

 two shovelers throw in the soil the third man holds 

 the tree and tramps it into place. A thorough 

 tramping of the soil about the roots is a matter of 

 serious importance. A light surface cultivation 

 should be given the land as soon as the trees are 

 planted. 



