152 The Commercial Apple Industry 



A four-man crew is efficient when a large number of 

 trees are to be planted. Holes should be dug large enough 

 to accommodate the root system without crowding or 

 bunching the roots, also sufficiently deep to permit the 

 planting of the tree two or three inches deeper than it 

 stood in the nursery row. It is important that all broken, 

 bruised or interlacing roots be cut away at the time of 

 transplanting. Long roots should be cut back to about 

 six inches. After the tree has been located with the aid of 

 the planting-board, rich soil from the surface should be 

 worked tightly under and among the roots with the fingers. 

 The hole should then be filled about half full of dirt and 

 tramped. Hard lumpy soil should be avoided since it 

 dries out easily. The remainder of the hole should be 

 filled and the earth carefully tamped about the roots. A 

 few shovelfuls of loose dirt or a few forkfuls of loose 

 manure thrown about the tree is a last precaution to pre- 

 vent the loss of moisture and completes the operation of 

 planting. When strong winds prevail as in many local- 

 ities, it is important that the tree be leaned strongly 

 against prevailing winds. When large numbers of trees 

 are being planted, the roots should be covered with saw- 

 dust or placed in a tub of loamy soil mixed with water. 

 This precaution will prevent drying out of the trees when 

 they are being distributed for planting. 



HEADING TREES 



In transplanting, a large part of the root system of the 

 young tree is removed. In order to preserve the proper 

 balance between the top and the roots, it is necessary that 

 the former be cut back as severely or even more so than the 



