174 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



THE SETTING OF THE PLANTS 



Fruit plants sometimes live and thrive under very 

 careless handwork in setting, but these cases are excep- 

 tions and due to unusually favorable seasons or soil condi- 

 tions, and they are not to serve as guides to practice. The 

 only recommendable procedure is one of care-taking at 

 every stage of the work. 



When to plant. 



There is much difference of opinion as to the relative 

 merits of fall and spring planting. The writer's opinion is 

 that fall planting is generally preferable to spring planting 

 on thoroughly drained and settled lands, particularly for 

 the hardy tree-fruits, like apples, pears and plums; and if 

 the ground is in good condition and the stock well matured, 

 peaches may sometimes be set in October, even in the 

 northern states, with success. The advantages of fall 

 planting are several. The trees become established in the 

 open weather of autumn, and they usually make a start in 

 spring before the ground is hard enough to allow of spring 

 planting. This early start means not only a better growth 

 the first season, but, what is more important, trees that get 

 a very early hold endure the droughts of midsummer much 

 better than trees planted in spring. Planting is nearly 

 always better done in the settled weather and workable soil 

 of autumn than in the capricious days and in the hurry of 

 springtime; and the orchardist is free to begin cultivation 

 at a time when he would otherwise be planting his trees. 

 Again, it is commonly better to buy trees in the fall, 

 when the stock of varieties is full and when the best 

 trees are yet unsold; these trees must be kept until 

 planting time, and it is about as cheap and fully as safe 



