CHAPTER XXX 

 GROWING APPLES FOR THE HOME 



Many individuals have only enough land for a small garden or 

 orchard. It is highly important that owners of small plots of less 

 than an acre be encouraged to utilize these by planting fruit trees, 

 especially the apple. 



General advice. As a rule, in such cases there cannot be much 

 of a choice of site for each apple tree. However, the planting be- 

 ing so small, the home grower can improve a poor site by drainage 

 or irrigation, or some other means. 



Trees should be purchased from reliable nurserymen or through 

 reliable seed houses, and should measure up to the standards of 

 first-class trees given in Chapter IV. Before planting, see that the 

 roots are clean and the ends cut smoothly. Dig a hole large enough 

 for the roots to lie in their natural position. It is generally best to 

 have the soil at the bottom of the hole slightly loose for an inch or 

 two. Place the tree in the hole, having it stand perhaps slightly 

 deeper than it stood in the nursery. This depth may be easily as- 

 certained by inspection of the trunk just above the roots, where a 

 slight ring of dirt or discolored matter will be seen. 



The soil should be firmed about the roots ; first, the fine topsoil 

 should be thoroughly worked in among the roots by the use of the 

 hand and fingers, then the remainder of the topsoil should be 

 trodden down by foot pressure after each two or three shovelfuls. 

 Finally, the subsoil should be thrown in and trodden clown until 

 the hole is filled. The last two or three shovelfuls may be spread 

 loosely over the soil near the tree and left in this condition to serve 

 as a mulch to help conserve the moisture that is in the soil. Some- 

 times on sandy or gravelly soil, especially if it is comparatively dry, 

 several buckets of water may be used to advantage. 



The top of the tree should be cut back in order to give the tree 

 balance. Leave three limbs with three buds on each, the topmost 



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