178 THE HOME ORCHAED— APPLE, PEAR, QUINCE 



Two-year-old trees are much more difficult to handle in this 

 regard. The buds are on only the last season's growth, and good 

 judgment must be exercised to decide which old branches should be 

 left. It is often impossible to make a low-headed tree when two- 

 year-old nursery trees are being planted. Try to leave such 

 branches as will balance the head of the tree when these become 

 the main head limbs. If the branches are the same height on the 

 main shaft of the tree they will tend to split, and the tree when 

 loaded with fruit will be seriously injured. 



Height of Head. — When the main branches start out near the 

 ground the tree is said to be low-headed. If the trunk is three or 

 four feet below the main branches the tree is called high-headed. 

 (Fig. 103.) 



Many orchardists now head trees low at planting time. This 



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Fig. 102. — A planting board uBed as shown makes it eas y to place the tree exactly where the 

 stake was placed for it. 



makes them easier to spray and prune; the fruit is easier to harvest, 

 and the trees are less apt to split and break in heavy winds or 

 when loaded with fruit. Cultivation near the trees is more difficult 

 unless special implements are used. Compare the trees shown 

 here as to height of trunks, figures 103, 104, 109, 110, 111. 



Planting an Orchard Tree. — The hole for the planting of a tree 

 should be considerably larger than the area covered by the roots. 

 It should also be deep enough so that some of the best soil may be 

 thrown back into the hole before planting. The tree should also be 

 set an inch or two deeper than it was in the nursery. After getting 

 the tree in its exact position throw some of the best soil over the 

 roots and tramp this firmly in place. If any manure is to be added 

 it should be put above this and not too close to the tree. Only.a 

 little manure for each tree should be used at planting time. When 

 filling in the balance of the soil tramping occasionally is best. 

 Leave some loose soil on top to form a mulch and prevent evapora- 



