XIV 



Introduction 



Warm weather in February and March starts 

 the sap flowing and causes the buds to swell. 

 Then follows a cold snap, the buds are killed 

 and there will be no fruit that season. If the 

 orchard has an exposed position and slopes to 

 the north, the sap will not begin to flow 

 until real spring weather sets in. It is espec- 

 ially important for Peach trees to have this 

 cold exposure, for the sap starts more easily 

 with them than with any other fruit. 



To plant a tree, dig a hole in well prepared 

 ground, no deeper than the length of the roots, 

 and pour in some water. The roots should 

 be arranged carefully before planting. They 

 should be spread out so the soil can cover 

 them naturally, and they should not be in a 

 mass. If there is a "tap root," great care 

 should be taken not to break it. It is some- 

 times very long and straight and grows from 

 the bottom of the clump of roots. It should 

 be planted perfectly straight. A suitable hole 

 for the tap root can be made with a crowbar. 

 One man should hold the tree in an upright 

 position in the hole and shake it gently up 

 and down, while another man throws soil in 



