38 



HOME FRUIT GROWER 



to leave no stub, and not 

 more than a quarter of 

 an inch above the buds 

 from which new shoots 

 are desired. 



Avoid having 

 branches start close to^ 

 gether (Figs. 11 and 13). 

 Have at least space enough 

 between each pair so the 

 hand may grasp the trunk 

 between them without 

 touching either (Fig. 14). 

 This will prevent splitting 

 of the branches from the 

 trunks in after years when 

 the trees are loaded with 

 fruit or ice (Fig. 15). 



Fig. 17. A wind-break on the right would have 

 prevented this distortion 



When trees are received with two 

 branches of even development and in the 

 form of a Y, either cut one off entirely, or if 

 so doing would leave a large wound and pos- 

 sibly cause drying of the other parts, cut 

 to a stub as shown in Fig. 16 and a year 

 or two later remove this stub when the 

 remaining trunk is relatively larger. 



In windy places stake the trees during 

 the first year (Fig. 17). 



Never let trees be frozen while out of 

 the ground. This kills them. Bury their 

 roots and part of their trunks if they cannot 

 be planted at once or before frost. 



Never place manure or fertilizer in con- 

 tact with roots. It "burns" and destroys them. 



To prevent mouse injury to the trunks 

 during Winter keep the ground bare for at 

 least a yard away and make a mound of 



Fig. 18. -Hardware cloth, 



the surest protection against^ 



rabbits and mice 



