How to Plant a Tree 37 



the roots will not be able to supply the large top with 

 crude sap, and the trees will not make as strong a growth. 



The amount of cutting back of the tops that is neces^ 

 sary at the time a tree is set depends largely on the age of 

 the tree, the kind, whether peach, apple, plum, etc. Peach 

 trees are generally cut back to a whip; two-year-old ap- 

 ples are usually shortened back not more than one-half; 

 pears, plums, cherries, etc., when two-year-old stock is 

 used, are cut back about one-third, and where one-year-old 

 whips are used, the cutting back should as a rule be about 

 one-third of the length of the tree. 



How to Plant a Tree 



Many persons inexperienced in handling trees lose a 

 number of trees in setting an orchard because of their lack 

 of skill or acquaintance with handling such plants. It 

 must be remembered that from the time the trees leave 

 the soil of the nursery until they are firmly planted in the 

 orchard, the roots should be exposed to the air as little 

 as possible, and especially to air that is moving rapidly, 

 or which is dry. Trees should not be left with their roots 

 exposed to the sun or wind any longer than can possibly 

 be avoided. When waiting to be planted they should be 

 heeled in, that is, have their roots covered with moist soil, 

 and should be taken out only as actually needed for im- 

 mediate planting. Where it is necessary to transport a 

 number of trees from the heeling-in grounds to the or- 

 chard, it is best to pack the trees in a tight wagon box, 

 mixing the roots with a plentiful supply of wet straw. 

 Small quantities of trees may be placed in a barrel contain- 

 ing a little water. In the Western states it is a common 

 practice to load the trees into a barrel filled with water and 

 then as a tree is planted to pour a little of the water around 

 the roots of the tree before the hole is filled with soil. 



The hole that is dug for the tree should be large 

 enough so that the roots may be spread out naturally, 

 without any crowding. These holes need not be very wide 

 but need to be deep enough to allow the tree to be set a 

 little deeper than it stood in the nursery. All of the long- 



