this unnatural sidewise growth is that each tree in the orchard is com- 

 pelled to go over into the feeding supply of its neighbor and conse- 

 quently does not receive the necessary amount of plant food to prop- 

 erly nurture it and allow of its healthy growth. Its yield of fruit 

 is also lessened by this forced encroaching of one tree on the feeding 

 ground of its neighbor. Then, too, a brief dry spell exhausts all the 

 moisture from the thin feeding ground of the tree, stopping its growth 

 or killing it. From this it is not to be assumed that natural lateral 

 growth is undesirable, but simply means that hardpan prevents prac- 

 tically all downward growth. A tree growing under these conditions 

 is also quite likely to be blown over by wind. 



Dynamite blasting proves a simple and effective remedy for this 

 condition. The blast breaks up the hard soil and permits the roots to 

 take their natural downward course into the lower strata in which 

 plenty of plant food elements are available. Under these conditions, 

 one tree is not interfered with by another ; each one receives the bene- 

 fit of all of the soil allotted to it when at the time of planting the sur- 

 face was measured and laid out. 



It must not be assumed that dynamite blasting is beneficial only 

 when the topsoil is underlaid with hardpan. It is of the utmost impor- 

 tance to assist a tree, especially a young one, to send its roots out into 

 its feeding bed as easily and rapidly as possible. The more porous 

 and mellow the soil, provided it is one of the type of soils liable to be 

 found in compact condition, the more rapid will be the growth. Even 

 in the deep loamy soils of Oregon, among the most perfect for fruit 

 tree culture found in the United States, blasting has proven extremely 

 beneficial in forwarding the growth of young fruit trees, as is shown in 

 the letter of Orchardist Rawley, which appears on page 63 of this 

 booklet. 



The main object to be sought in tree planting is to so prepare the 

 ground that the growing tree can absorb the largest possible percentage 

 of moisture from the soil which it occupies. Loosening and aerating 

 the soil permits it to absorb more of the rainfall and store it against 

 the future needs of the tree. A Cornell University authority advises 

 that a tree planted in soil properly prepared, can absorb 60 per cent. 

 of the moisture contained in it. 



Professor Fabian Garcia, of the New Mexico Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, who has conducted a considerable amount of experi- 

 mental work, much of which was in an intensely practical way, makes 

 the following statement: 



"The hope and desire of every orchardist is to have the roots of 

 his fruit trees grow down as deeply as possible. There is no doubt that 

 the deeper the roots grow the better it is for the trees, and the longer 

 lived they are." 



Dynamite Method is Most Economical 



1 Most fruit growers who have tried dynamite for tree planting are 

 ready to admit that the method is productive of good results, and that 

 the work can be done more quickly than *by old-fashioned methods. 



Many hesitate to adopt it, however, because they reason that it is 

 more costly. There are some features of this question of cost that 

 deserve serious consideration. Many people deceive themselves when 

 they attempt to figure costs. 50 



