Planting and Care of the Pecan Orcliard 113 



ous damage, but better results are usually secured by leaving 

 the entire root system, except the bruised and broken parts. 

 These should be removed carefully with a sharp knife or pair 

 of shears. 



Dynamite can be employed to advantage in digging holes 

 when the subsoil is porous and cracks with the discharge. 

 Positive damage is often done with dynamite when the subsoil 

 is stiff and packs with the discharge. ^Yhen this occurs, a 

 jug-like hole is made, the sides of which are hardened so that 

 it is difficult for the roots of the young tree to penetrate. 

 Water also collects in the hole during a rainy spell, and, as 

 it is difficult for seepage to take place, the young tree is often 

 drowned out. 



The roots of a young pecan tree should not be exposed to 

 dry air or sunlight for any length of time. They should be 

 kept wrapped in wet sacks or carried in a barrel of water. 

 As soon as the tree is set in position in the hole, the top soil 

 should be carefully worked in with the fingers around the 

 roots. All clods should be pulverized before being placed in 

 the hole. Special pains should be taken to place the soil 

 firmly around the tap-root as air spaces will usually cause 

 the soft and spongy root to dry out, resulting in the death 

 of the tree. When the hole is about half full, the soil should 

 be tramped firmly about the roots and a bucket of water 

 added, unless there is sufficient moisture already in the soil. 

 The hole should then be filled level full, tramped, and another 

 bucket of water added if needed, after which loose mellow 

 soil should be banked three or four inches high around the 

 young tree. If fertilizer is to be used, it should be mixed 

 thoroughly with the soil. It is generally safer not to put 

 fertilizer of anv kind in the hole, but to work it into the 



