88 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



winter apples. If uear a market, plant a few of the early varie- 

 ties. For a family orchard, one acre, select twelve varieties so as 

 to have a constant succession of fruit for home use from summer 

 to late spring. As fruits vary in different localities, obtain such 

 varieties as are adapted to your own soil and climate. 



Planti.vg. 



Plant in the spring- about the first of May, or as soon as the soil 

 is sufficiently dry. Heel in the trees if they arrive too soon, or if 

 any are shrivelled when received from the nursery, bury them, 

 root and branch for some days. They will thus regain their 

 former plumpness. Should any of the roots be broken or muti- 

 lated, cut off the same so as to leave the ends sound and smooth. 

 Prune tlie ends of all the other roots, ahso the branches about one- 

 third, and if the roots are badly mutilated, at least one-half, so 

 that the tops shall be in proportion to the size and vigor of the 

 roots. At the time of setting, dip the roots of the trees in a 

 bucket of water ; dig a space large enough to admit the roots freely 

 and press mellow surface dirt firmly about them, covering them 

 about the same depth as when taken from the nursery. Plant the 

 trees thirty-three feet apart in an exact line and at right angles, 

 using a carpenter's square, and a straight 16| foot pole, and what- 

 ever the slope of the ground carry the rod poles horizontal. If 

 the ground is sufficiently descending for apples to roll freely, in 

 such case let the trees of the same variety be set in rows up and 

 down the hill. 



Staking and Straightening. 



During or after planting, set a small stake about two feet from 

 the base of each straight-bodied tree, being careful not to injure 

 the roots, and incline the upper end of the stake toward the tree 

 and unite stake and tree by means of a band of canvass or leather, 

 the ends of which are tacked or nailed to the stake. The object 

 of this is not so much to train the tree erect, as it is to prevent the 

 wind from swaying the tree to and fro, and consequently keeping 

 the fibrous roots in such a continued state of motion as to give 

 them but little opportunity to take a firm hold upon the soil. If 

 the orchard is in a windy locality more than one stake may be 

 required. 



If any of the trees contain several short or obstinate crooks, 

 they should be discarded and replaced by others, but the trees 

 which are not much crooked may be made straight in the follow- 

 ing manner. Set a stake firmly in the ground near the tree and 

 opposite each crook. Then set corresponding stakes on the 

 opposite sides of the tree, and tie to the stake with strong cord or 

 strips of canvas in such a manner that the body of the tree shall 

 be straight or but slightly crooked. If cord is used for this pur- 

 pose, insert a strip of thick cloth between the union of the cord 

 and tree, and while tying, adjust the trees with a plumb line, and 

 "sight" through the rows to see if, through some oversight, or 

 otherwise, *any of the trees are " out of line ;" if so, adjust them. 



