FRUIT GROWING 7 



Can I disinfect the holes without transporting too much ^vater (as copper 

 sulphate solution)? The bottoms of the holes are filled with manure, 

 and as soon as ground settles will fill with new soil. 



Probably a good whitening of the hole with air-slaked lime, 

 before putting in the new soil, will do as much good as anything. We 

 should count most upon the use of good soil from a distance. Put a 

 good deal of soil between the roots and the manure. We would 

 prefer to put the manure on top after planting. If your blasting 

 shattered the old subsoil so as to furnish better under-drainage the 

 apples may come through all right. Otherwise they will follow the 

 pears probably, after awhile. Rotten root is usually the result of 

 planting in a place naturally defective. 



Replanting After Crown Gall. 



I have an old peach orchard full of crozvn gall or black knot. Would 

 it be safe to plant to new orchard zvithout disinfection and is any par- 

 ticular variety of fruit trees immune from this disease? 



Work the land deeply, getting out and removing all root-frag- 

 ments and replant on lines between the old rows with trees free from 

 knots and sign of their removal and watch the crowns and main roots 

 by uncovering once a year the base of the trees cleanly cutting away 

 and Bordeauxing the wound, if any knots are found. Peach and 

 almond roots are most subject; cherries, apricots and plums next; 

 pears and apples least according to our observation. 



Replanting Apples and Pears. 



/ have taken out an old orchard, and desire to set it out again. 

 Would it be advisable to set pears and apples again in the same soil? 



It is practicable providing the soil is good and suited to apples 

 and pears as shown by the trees you removed. It would be better to 

 manure well and run the land in alfalfa, beans or peas for two or 

 three years or even to some other cultivated crop with deep plowing 

 but it is not necessary to do so. Get out all the old roots you can and 

 plant the new rows midway between the old rows, if the old distances 

 were right. 



Manure and Tree Planting. 



Which is the best way to use manure in setting out trees: to dig the 

 holes about three feet and then fill about ten inches of manure and about 

 one foo.t of dirtf Or just dig the holes as you want them and then 

 mix the dirt and manure well together and fill the hole with it? 



As a rule it is not a good thing to put manure in the hole with 

 the tree either below it or mixed with the earth in filling. Of course, 

 if the manure is thoroughly decomposed, it may be put below as you 

 suggest and covered with dirt, but unless you are irrigating there will 

 be danger of the soil becoming too dry. If the manure is not decom- 



