102 RAISING YOUNG APPLE TREES. 



ment if the projecting fibrous roots are mostly trim- 

 med off, new ones always shooting out from the 

 main root. 



The grafts are most expeditiously set 

 out with a dibble, or a sharp tool, shod 

 with iron or steel, about an inch and a 

 half in diameter, one stroke of which 

 into the mellow soil forms a hole for the 

 roots, and two or three lighter strokes press 

 Fig. 21. tne garth dosely about them. Fig. 21, 

 represents a convenient form for this instrument, 

 which may be made of the handle of a 

 broken spade. Fig. 22, shows the graft 

 and root, ready for setting out. To keep 

 the whole moist, till sufficient growth takes 

 place, the place of union between the root 

 and graft should be at least three inches 

 below the surface. 



The chief care afterwards is to keep the 

 Fig. 22. ground constantly cultivated and perfectly 

 clean, which will increase the growth during sum- 

 mer, and exclude mice in winter; the trees are 

 to be trained up to one leading stem, not trimming 

 so closely as to make them slender; they are to be 

 kept straight, by tying them when necessary to 

 upright stakes ; and all destructive insects must be 

 watched and destroyed. 



If the ground is rich and kept perfectly clean, 

 they will grow from one and a half to two feet the 



