16 FIELD NOTES Oif APPLE CULTURE. ' 



CHAPTER III. 



WHEN TO PLANT. 



As a rule, fall planting is preferable to spring plant- 

 ing. The particular advantages of fall planting are two : 

 the tree becomes somewhat established in the soil before 

 spring opens ; there is more leisure in the fall. 



It is well known to nurserymen that cuttings of fruit 

 or ornamental plants if set in the fall become callused on 

 the wounded surfaces, and often send out small roots 

 before freezing weather sets in. The same is true of 

 fruit trees. A pear tree which is set as soon as the 

 leaves fall will make rootlets in four or five weeks, if the 

 weather is open. There is nearly always a beginning of 

 the healing process as soon as trees are planted in the 

 fall. This healing, even though it be small, is a direct 

 and important gain over spring planting. The tree also 

 becomes thoroughly fixed in its place, the soil settles 

 firmly about its roots, and it is ready to take advantage 

 of the first opening of spring. The matter of greater 

 leisure for planting in the fall is not an unimportant one. 

 Trees should not be planted hastily. Time should be 

 taken to pulverize the soil and to straighten each root. 

 In the hurry of spring work this thorough planting is 

 often neglected, and many times the trees are not set as 

 early as they should be. 



To insure success with fall planting the ground must 

 be well drained and thoroughly prepared, and much care 

 must be exercised in setting the trees. A poorly drained 



