FRUITS FOR THE HOME GARDEN 



The plants are set in the soil about as deep as they stood in the 

 nursery, though in light, hungry, or thirsty soils the roots should go 



a little deeper and in very heavy soils not quite so 

 Setting deep. Deep planting is a more common mistake than 



shallow planting, for roots, under most conditions, 

 stand exposure better than over-deep planting, going down being more 

 natural than coming up for a root seeking a place to its liking. The 

 soil must be packed firmly about newly set plants, which is best done 

 by tramping. Zeal in tramping diminishes as the hole is filled, leaving 

 the top soil loose with a dust-mulch to prevent evaporation. 



The reward of forethought in planting the home unli.u^ 



Watering at planting-time is necessary only when the land is 

 parched by drought, or in regions where it must be irrigated. When 

 necessary, water must be used liberally — a gallon or two to a plant. 

 In place of watering many prefer to ])uddlc the roots by di]:>ping them 

 in thin mud and planting with the mud adhering. In either watering 

 or puddling the surface soil must be left loose and soft. 



Newly set plants are seldom in need of outside noiu-ishment. 

 To put rank manure or strong fertilizers about the roots of young 

 trees is inviting plant infanticide. If soil is to be enriched at plant- 

 ing-time, the fertilizer shoukl ))e spread on the surface, to be culti- 

 vated in or to have its food elements leach down as rains fall. 



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