APPLES 



165 



good earth in which the roots may grow 

 the first year. On the other hand if the 

 soil is very heavy and hard the same 

 treatment is recommended. But, on the 

 whole, if the soil is not suited to trees 

 better not plant any. Orchardists very 

 frequently inquire as to the advisability 

 of putting manure in the bottom of the 

 hole. This practice is not advisable. If 

 manure is to be used on the young trees 

 it had better be used as a surface mulch. 

 Fabian Garcia, 

 Santa Fe, N. M. 



TIME OF PL.4NTING 



Much difference of opinion exists be- 

 tween the best authorities as to the sea- 

 son for planting apple trees. Late fall 

 planting is advocated by some, while 

 others are equally certain that early 

 spring planting is better. The chief rea- 

 sons advanced by the former are that 

 roots of trees set in the fall become thor- 

 oughly established in the soil, and that 

 all cut surfaces on the roots become cal- 

 loused during the winter, which results 

 in new roots pushing out early in the 

 spring. On the other hand, dry falls and 

 dry winters will prove fatal to many fall- 

 set trees, and the stand will therefore 

 be imperfect. Since Idaho very often ex- 

 periences these latter conditions, early 

 spring planting may be regarded as the 

 safer rule. Moreover, if trees are "heeled 

 in" in the fall the roots will be thor- 

 oughly calloused by earl.v spring, thus 

 affording such trees one of the main ben- 

 efits derived from fall planting. Un- 

 doubtedly spring planting should be the 

 rule for Idaho orchardists. 



J. R. Shinn, 

 Moscow. Idaho. 



Time of Planting in TCew England 



In this part of the country spring plant- 

 ing is usually preferred. The chief, and 

 probably the only advantage, in fall plant- 

 ing is in getting the work out of the way. 

 Trees for planting should not be taken 

 from the nursery row till the leaves have 

 fallen, and this is usually so late that 

 the weather is not suitable for planting. 

 If the soil should be dry, as is often the 

 case in the fall, the trees are likely to 

 dry out and be injured during the winter. 



As previously noted, it is advisable to 

 purchase trees in the fall so as to get a 

 better assortment and to have them ready 

 for planting in the spring as soon as the 

 weather is favorable. If this suggestion 

 is followed and if soil and weather con- 

 ditions are favorable in the fall after the 

 stock arrives, the trees may be safely and 

 profitably planted. If left till spring the 

 planting should be done as soon as the 

 ground can be conveniently worked. 

 C. D. Jarvis, 

 Storis. Conn. 



Southern Conditions 



The question as to the best time to 

 plant is governed somewhat by latitudes. 

 In southern latitudes late fall or the early 

 part of the winter may be safe for plant- 

 ing. But in most of the states early 

 spring is considered the better time. Fall 

 planting has the objection against it that 

 the roots of a tree do not take hold of 

 the ground sufficiently to supply enough 

 moisture to maintain a healthy active 

 circulation of the sap which is required 

 to prevent shriveling of the branches 

 during winter's extreme cold and exhaus- 

 tive evaporation from drying winds. 

 G. B. Bbackett, 

 Washinrton, D. C. 



Soutliwest 



The time of setting out trees varies. 

 There are many different opinions on the 

 subject, some claiming the fall is the best 

 time while others favor the spring. It is 

 to be remembered that a tree can be 

 planted at any time during its dormant 

 period. It may be set out in the fall, 

 winter or spring. Fall planted trees some- 

 times do as well as winter or spring 

 planted trees. It is a difficult thing to 

 recommend any set rule for the time of 

 planting trees. Each time has its ad- 

 vantages and disadvantages. As a rule 

 -the local conditions decide which is the 

 best time for planting. One of the reasons 

 why fall and winter planting is not prac- 

 ticed more than it Is in cold and dry 

 climates is on account of the loss of mois- 

 ture from the tree during this time. The 

 roots being cut off and not having started 

 to grow do not supply the tree with any 

 moisture during the fall and winter. As 

 a rule the roots will not begin to grow 



