196 



ESTABLISHING THE ORCHARD 



air spaces are reduced and the soil particles and soil moisture 

 are in intimate contact with the root system. If the soil is 

 wet, less tramping is desirable since the ground will settle 

 itself. Fill the hole above ground level to allow for settling, 

 and leave the soil loose on top to prevent dr^dng out. 



Often better progress will be made if one gang digs the holes 

 and another plants the trees. A trial will determine the most 

 eflBcient size of the planting gangs. 



(d) Subsequent Treatment, Do not prune the tops until 

 after the orchard is planted. Some branches may be injured 

 or broken in the planting operation. Leave them all until the 

 job is done. Then one man can go through and prune them 

 very rapidly and according to the same plan and standard. 

 It may be done any time within two or three weeks after 

 planting. Directions are given in the chapter on pruning. 

 Opinion differs as to the advisability of pruning fall-planted 

 trees before spring. There seems little reason why excess 

 branches should not be removed at once. 



To prevent excess evaporation and thus give the trees a 

 good start, the young trees are sometimes coated with an 

 emulsion of wax. 



Map the orchard as to varieties and their location when 

 the planting job is completed. File the map with a copy of the 

 order and bill. This will be helpful and interesting later and 

 may also be an aid if varieties prove untrue to name. 



GENERAL INFORMATION 



1. Apple Regions and Varieties 



The commercial fruit areas of the United States and Canada are 

 quite well defined. Since most sections are now well served by trans- 

 portation facilities, the fruit sections are det-ermined chiefly by climatic 

 factors and to a less extent by soils. A section may also be adapted to 

 the growing of fruit, but better adapted to some other crop. Exten- 

 sions of the industry into such sections may be looked for as economic 



