1666 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



with a thrifty tree. Again we find that 

 there is often a too rapid growth, such as 

 eight to ten feet in a season. Buy one- 

 year budded or grafted trees on two to 

 four-year roots. 



The nurseryman usually prunes the 

 root at the proper place in digging the 

 trees. However, the cut may not have 

 been made smooth and this should be 

 examined when the trees are ready for 

 planting. 



Two-year taproots should be cut back 

 from 18 to 20 inches. Four to five-foot 

 trees should have about 10 inches removed 

 from the top and those of other sizes 

 should have their tops and roots cut pro- 

 portionately. This cutting back of the 

 top is done to balance the loss of the root 

 system which is mode at the time of dig- 

 ging the trees. Sol 3 take trouble to dig 

 out holes 4x4 feet in setting the pecan. 

 This is hardly necessary although plenty 

 of room should be given the roots, which 



Fig. 2. When Gov. Hogff. of Texas, was on 

 his death-bed he requested that pecan trees 

 be planted on his grave, and the nuts dis- 

 tributed to the school children, to be planted. 

 This tree bore the second year after plant- 

 ing and has borne each year since. 



when pruned take up more room than any 

 other trees from the nursery. 



For Methods of Planting, see under 

 Apple. 



The surface soil should be used for 

 filling, and where this is not rich it will 

 be well to thoroughly mix about one 

 pound of commercial fertilizer to the soil 

 which is used in filling the hole. Never 

 let the young tree roots get dry, and after 

 planting if there should come a drought, 

 water should be given to them. Too lit- 

 tle attention is generally given to the 

 planting of all fruit trees. It is one time 

 when the quickest way is by no means 

 the best. The care will have to be given 

 for the first two years. 



Young trees show a smaller percentage 

 of loss than older ones going through the 

 transplanting process, and they are much 

 more easily handled. It takes the trees 

 some little time to readjust themselves. 

 A loss must be expected in transplanting. 

 All the young trees will not start off 

 simultaneously. Some will soon start out 

 a vigorous growth while others will be 

 more backward. Some may take another 

 year to die. Here then is the necessity 

 for expert care and nursing if the trees 

 are in the early stages of their orchard 

 life. A mulch of leaves or straw should 

 be placed around the tree to prevent evap- 

 oration. 



Time for Setting Trees 



The fall is the best time for this. Dor- 

 mant trees set in the fall establish them- 

 selves through the winter and are ready 

 in the spring to push out their buds. 

 From the latter part of November to the 

 first of February is the best time for 

 Gulf states. The earlier in this period the 

 better. 



CnltiTation 



When the growth starts in the spring, 

 the soil should be plowed and leveled, 

 this to be followed by a shallow cultiva- 

 tion every ten days, until July 10th or 

 15th. The light harrowing should be 

 practiced, following rains, as soon as the 

 ground can be worked. Where the har- 

 row does not reach the hoe should be 

 employed. Bearing orchards should have 



