planters appreciate the importance of 
working the soil in among the roots next 
the axis. The fingers answer the require- 
ments of the case better than any imple- 
ment, or the foot. There should be no 
cavities among the roots, and provided the 
soil is sufficiently dry to work it can 
scarcely be pressed too firmly about the 
roots. Firmness of the soil about the 
roots encourages the movement of capil- 
lary water towards the tree. 
In land with compact subsoils the dig- 
ging of large holes to be filled with loose 
rich earth, as is sometimes practiced in 
small plantings, is to be avoided. Holes 
in such lands become receptacles for seep 
water. Better not plant such land until 
tiled, or if used the holes should be filled 
with the soil removed. I have seen trees 
planted, principally for home use, in such 
land where the soil was built up slightly, 
making a shallow mound where the tree 
is to stand. The roots of the tree are 
then set on the slight mound. The ob- 
ject is plain. Ordinarily we should use 
for orchards only lands which will admit 
of level culture. 
ERNEST WALKER, 
Fayetteville, Ark. 
First Summer 
The orchardist should be sure to keep 
his trees growing vigorously during the 
first summer, as this is the most vital 
period in the history of an orchard. It 
is highly essential that the trees have a 
good start before mid-summer, in sections 
where irrigation is not practiced, for sum- 
mer drouth is likely to prove fatal to 
trees of low vigor and slow growth. 
Thorough tillage is imperative for the 
best success, whether the orchard be irri- 
gated or not. Conservation of moisture 
in the soil and aeration of the soil are 
the main results to be attained by this 
cultivating. To this end any crop grown 
in the orchard the first summer should be 
one that requires frequent cultivating. 
Such crops as small fruits, potatoes, to- 
matoes, melons, etc., are therefore, well 
adapted to young orchards, while the 
grain and pasture or meadow crops should 
be avoided. Tillage should be continued 
until about the first of August when it 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
is well to sow some leguminous covey crop, 
such as hairy vetch or Canada field peas 
Sown at this time or a little later, thege 
crops will make sufficient growth to form 
a mat over the surface of the ground: 
and while making this growth they wy] 
aid materially in ripening the wood for 
the following winter. Moreover, such 
crops will prevent the washing and leach- 
ing of soils during winter and when 
plowed under the following spring wil] 
add as much organic and fertilizing mat. 
ter to the soil as a small coating of 
manure would furnish. 
The stubs which the orchardist has left 
after planting soon become covered with 
shoots issuing from every bud. The prop- 
er treatment of these shoots is an impor- 
tant consideration. Some rub off all the 
shoots as they appear, excepting four or 
five which are left for the scaffold limbs. 
A better practice consists in rubbing off 
only the lowermost shoots, leaving about 
ten shoots to form leaves and to grow 
throughout the year. In allowing more 
leaf-area a greater growth of root system 
is promoted since the two parts are mu- 
tually dependent. The thinning out and 
the selection of the scaffold limbs is a 
task for the following spring. 
Diseases and Insecis 
Diseases and insects are likely to make 
their visitation upon the young orchard 
during the first year. The orchardist must 
be ever watchful for their appearance and 
be ready to shorten their stay to the 
minimum. Anthracnose on the trunk and 
shoots and scab on the leaves are likely 
to be the most serious diseases; while 
the apple borer, the green aphis and the 
san Jose scale are most prominent in- 
sects. Timely application of the best 
preventives and remedies for these pests 
is the only safeguard. Careful and fre 
quent observations is the rule for suc- 
cess in dealing with such opponents. 
J. R. SIIny, 
Moseow, Idaho. 
Pruning First Year 
This is perhaps the most important of 
any year during the life of a tree because 
it determines where the head of the tree 
shall begin to form. We advocate low 
