186 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



rows in the spring, as they are very liable to have been weakened 

 by unfavorable winter conditions and will often start poorly. They 

 should be dug in the autumn and buried root and branch "heeled 

 in" in dry soil until spring, or else be carried over the winter in 

 a cold cellar. As few cellars are fit for this purpose it is gener- 

 ally safer to bury them outside. As a rule, it is best for plant- 

 ers to get their trees in the fall, as they are then more certain 

 to get good stock, and there is no delay in waiting for them to 

 come in the spring. The trees may be set as soon as the soil 

 works easily in the spring, and until the trees break into leaf. 

 Usually moderately early planting gives the best results, but it 

 Is bad practice to set trees in wet, sticky soils. 



In the more favorable sections for apple growing there is 

 very little danger of trees in the nursery being injured in winter 

 and hence it is safe to dig the trees in the spring and set them 

 out. Autumn planting is also successful with apples in very 

 favorable locations but must be done with much care for best 

 results. 



Autumn planting. While it is best, as a rule, to plant trees 

 In the spring, yet it is quite practical to plant apples, plums, 

 and most other fruit trees in the autumn, provided that they are 

 afterwards laid on the ground on the approach of winter and 

 covered with earth and a little mulch. This makes considerable 

 additional labor over spring planting. On the other hand, how- 

 ever, it permits of planting in the autumn when the general farm 

 and garden work is not as pressing as in the spring. It really 

 amounts to the "heeling in" of each tree separately. In the spring 

 the trees should be uncovered and straightened up before growth 

 starts, and they are then all ready to go on and grow. 



"Heeling in" is a term used to designate the temporary bury- 

 ing of the roots of trees or plants in earth or other material. If 

 the trees are to be moved again within a few days, a very light 

 covering will be sufficient; but if they are to remain several weeks 

 much care should be taken to do the work well. To begin with, 

 select a dry, mellow piece of ground; dig a wide ditch, put in 

 the trees a few at a time either in an erect or sloping posi- 

 tion, and cover them so deep and firm that they cannot dry out. 

 If apples or some other somewhat tender trees are to remain 



