16 FIELD NOTES ON APPLE CULTURE. 
CHAPTER ITI. 
WHEN TO PLANT. 
As arule, 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 settlos 
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 
