PLANTING. 223 



used. For dwarfs and pyramids, one stake driven 2ft. 

 into the ground will suffice ; but for standards in exposed 

 positions it is advisable to place three stakes, fixed at 

 an angle of about 65 deg. The upper ends of these 

 require to be brought together at the top of the main 

 stem, a strip of sacking being first wound round the 

 latter to protect the bark from being rubbed by the stakes, 

 and then the stake ends have to be secured tightly by 

 means of stout twine. Another method of staking is to 

 fix three stout stakes in a vertical position, arranged tri- 

 angularly a few inches apart, secure the main stem to 



Fig. 93. "ACME" FRUIT TREE LABEL. 



An indelible label made of metal with white -raised letters 

 on a black ground. 



one of them, and then nail a narrow strip of wood to the 

 tops to hold them securely. Furthermore, to protect the 

 stems from injury by cattle, rabbits, or hares, a coil of 

 wire-netting, with its base buried six inches deep in the 

 soil, should surround them. In all cases the stakes should 

 be placed in position before the roots are covered with 

 soil, in order to avoid injuring the latter. (Fig. 91 and 92.) 



Labelling the Trees. It is most essential that the dif- 

 ferent varieties should be properly labelled at the time of 

 planting. The paper labels supplied by the nurserymen 

 soon decay, and, unless these are superseded by some of 



