MY VINEYARD. 41 



center, and one in each end. The center notch being 

 placed around the stake, which indicated the place for the 

 tree, a stake was driven in each of the end notches. The 

 center stake was then taken away and the hole dug. The 

 board being replaced with the end notches around the 

 end stakes, of course the center notch indicated just where 

 the tree ought to stand. The holes were dug only to the 

 depth of the sub-soiling. A greater depth seemed unad- 

 visable, as the sub-soil was somewhat retentive, and might 

 serve as a receptacle for water during heavy rains. The 

 holes were at least four feet in diameter. 



As soon as the trees arrived, they were heeled in care- 

 fully near the center of the orchard. The holes being 

 dug, everything was ready for planting. I had learned a 

 lesson upon this subject years before. My father owned 

 a small garden of about half an acre in our native village. 

 He used to bestow a good deal of care and labor upon it, 

 and among other things had a few trees. On one occasion, 

 being called away on business to a place eighteen miles 

 distant, he brought home with him, on his returning, a 

 number of trees, among tliem a Siberian Crab, thou in 

 full bloom. This last I remember very well of helf)ing 

 him plant. After digging the hole of good depth and 

 size, he filled it nearly full of fine surf ice soil. He then 

 put in several pails of water, and stirred it up so as to 

 make a thin mortar. In this he placed the tree, taking 

 care that the mortar should surround even the smallest 



