1 1 8 Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands. 



fall is that the top of the most of the trees that 

 we plant should be cut back when transplanted. 

 We cannot afford to make these wounds — from 

 which so much moisture will escape during the 

 winter when there is no chance for it to heal. 

 While if all the top is left on, the wind will 

 toss the tree about with the result just described. 

 Even when planting yearlings we find it neces- 

 sary to cut them back in order to form the 

 heads at the desired height. If this should be 

 done in the fall and we have a severe winter 

 with a great deal of cold, dry, windy weather, 

 we should not be surprised to find that the 

 switches have dried out until there was not 

 enough vitality left in them to burst their buds 

 in the spring. So they frequently send up 

 sprouts from near, or even under the surface, 

 from wood which has been protected. We 

 should always remember that whenever the air 

 is dryer than the body or twigs of our trees 

 that the moisture will escape through their 

 bark. Without moisture there can be no 

 growth. So whenever a tree is allowed, from 

 any cause to become dry, its vitality is weak- 

 ened. Many replants are caused by unneces- 

 sary exposure of tender bark, or wounds during 

 the winter. 

 When the trees are moved from the nursery 



