6 
A. B. Hood £t Co.'s Descriptive Catalogue 
portion of its roots, a severe shortening-in of the brandies will be necessary ; if only 
a small portion of the roots have been cut off, more moderate pruning will be suffi- 
cient. Particular attention to this matter will save many trees that otherwise would 
perish. 
PLANTING 
h'ill up the hole with surface soil, so that the tree will stand as it did when in 
the nursery, after the earth is settled, e.scept Dwarf Pears, which should be planted 
deep enough to cover the Quince stock upon «-hich they are budded 2 or 3 inches. 
Work the soil thoroughly among the roots, and when well covered tramp firmly. 
Set the tree firm as a post, but leave the surface filling (of poorer soil) light and 
loose. No staking will be required except with very tall trees. Never let manure 
come in contact with the roots. 
MULCHING 
The value of mulching catinot be overestimated. It increases the fertility of the 
soil, protects the tree alike from drought and frost, and adds materially to the growth 
and vigor of young orchards. The trifling cost of material and lalx>r, and the immense 
benefits derived, commend it to every one. Pine tags, straw, leaves, coarse manure, 
shavings or tan bark may be used. Some of these may be procured by every one. 
Remove the mulching from the stem of the tree during the winter, otherwise 
mice may harbor there and injure it. 
We also advise removing the mulch several times during the growing season 
and loosening up the soil about the trees. 
CULTIVATING 
When the transplanting is finished many persons are under the impression that 
their work is done, and they can do nothing more for the tree ; but this is a very 
mistaken idea. It is an important matter to have them well planted, but doubly 
important to have them well cultivated afterwards. P'nveloped in weeds and grass, 
what plant can flourish ? What farmer, for an instant, would think of raising a crop 
of Indian corn in the thick and tall grass of a meadow? Such an idea, he would at 
once say, would be prejrosterous. We will say that it is not more impossible than the 
idea of raising a thrifty orchard under the same treatment. It is indispensably 
necessary that the ground should be well cultivated to obtain fine fruit. I'rom the 
neglect of this arises so much of the dissatisfaction of tree planters. Give to your 
trees for a few years a clean, mellow and fertile soil, and they will bend under 
copious loads of fine fruit, and yield to the cultivator his rew'ard. The experiment 
only is enough to convince any one of the advantage of good culture. Dwarf Pears, 
more than any other tree, require a deep, rich soil and clean cultivation. In culti- 
vating, great care should be taken not to injure the trees by rubbing the bark off', 
which will often happen if careless hands (or those that are not) use long single- 
trees. W'e use a singletree 10 inches, and always wrap the end atid trace next to the 
row, and seldom bark a tree. The best tools are one-horse turn-plow (which 
every farmer or fruit-grower should have) and cultivator. We try to cultivate our 
nursery after every rain from April to October. The best crops for an orchard are 
those requiring summer culture — such as potatoes, beans, etc. Winter crops are 
little better than no culture. Rye is decidedly injurious. 
PRUNING 
We recoTiimend the greatest care :md moderation in this operation, believing, 
as we do, that upon the whole there is more injury done by the use of pruning instru- 
ments in unskilful hands than would result from its entire neglect. Some of the 
objects sought are to diminish the thick growth, to increase the vigor of the branches. 
