PROPAGATION OF TREES AND PLANTS 191 



pinched are to be finally cut off close to the trunk. The 

 last method has the advantage of making a more stocky 

 tree, though not quite so smooth and clean. 



At tlie end of the second year apple trees, either 

 root grafts or budded stock, should stand from five to 

 seven feet high, and be from three-fourths to one inch 

 in diameter at the ground, with four or five strong 

 shoots near the top and evenly placed on all sides of 

 the trunk. Such trees, i. e., two-year trees, are better 

 than those older or younger for general planting, and 

 should not be allowed to stand longer in the nursery. 



Digging Trees from the Nursery — The value of 

 nursery trees to the purchaser largely depends upon how 

 many of the roots are secured in digging them from 

 the ground, and how long they are exposed to the air 

 before they are planted in the soil again. The best 

 way to get them from the ground is to first dig the 

 soil away from the tree down to the roots, which will 

 be, in well cultivated land, about six inches. Then with 

 sharp sj^ades cut a circle around the tree at from one 

 to two feet, according to the size of the tree, severing 

 all roots that go outside of that limit. With two strong 

 spades, one on each side, and a third man to pull, the 

 tree is then lifted out with the largest amount of roots 

 that it is possible to secure. If a large number of trees 

 is to be dug and the help is limited, all of those 

 of one variety are first loosened and then, going over 

 the row again, all are taken quickly from the ground 

 and the roots covered, or each kind may be planted before 

 another kind is dug. Trees should never be kept out of 

 the ground any longer than is absolutely necessary. If 

 trees are to be transported a long distance, the roots 

 should be protected from drying by the process known 

 as "puddling," which consists in dipping them in a 

 thick mixture of clay and water, the covering thus formed 

 making an almost air-tight covering over the roots. 



