APPLE. 185 



grafting to change the bearing qualities, where extremely hardy 

 stocks are used. The objection to budded trees is not in the 

 method of propagation, but in the fact that the buds must be in- 

 serted above or close to the ground in a seedling root which is 

 often of doubtful hardiness and may be quite tender and the bud 

 is partly exposed above ground, where it is liable to fail at 

 any time. Root-grafted trees have the graft below ground and 

 send out roots from above the graft, which increases the hardi- 

 ness of the tree. Quite frequently the roots of a budded or graft- 

 ed tree will be tender and kill out, while the top is healthy and 

 sound, consequently it is desirable to have the roots as hardy 

 as the top. But as this is not always practicable, every effort 

 should be made to get the hardiest roots obtainable. In most 

 favorable locations, budded trees may be just as desirable as 

 those which are root-grafted. The kind of root-graft, whether it 

 is made with whole or piece roots, makes but little difference 

 to the ordinary planter, who should try especially to get good 

 trees and then be careful to plant the graft well below the sur- 

 face of the ground. 



Planting. For planting, the land should be in as good condi- 

 tion as is required for corn. The work of planting will be greatly 

 facilitated if the land is furrowed out both ways with a large 

 plow, and the trees set at the intersections. If the trees must be 

 set in sod, a hole five feet in diameter should be dug for each tree; 

 no grass should be allowed to grow in this space, and it should 

 be heavily mulched. In setting the trees, the holes should be 

 made large enough to take in all the roots without crowding. If 

 it is necessary to set trees into the subsoil, as it often is, then in 

 digging the holes the top-soil should be kept separate from the 

 sub-soil and be put back in the bottom of the hole so as to be in 

 contact with the roots. The roots should be evenly spread out 

 in the hole and the fine top soil carefully worked among them so 

 as not to leave any air spaces between or under them. If the 

 soil is dry it can hardly be made too solid around the roots. If 

 wet, but little pressure should be used. 



The time to plant. In the extreme North, fruit trees should 

 never be set in the fall of the year as they are then especially 

 liable to winter injury, nor should they be dug from the nursery 



