JO. 
Planting 
Ci^n Saiirt 
yV'ni's e 1*2 e 
View in Persimmon orchard planted 
with our trees 
Planting Information 
The land on wliicli trees are to l)e set should be thorouKlily pre¬ 
pared l)efore i)lanting. Too fretjuently this inijjortani nialter is 
neglected or poorly done, but it pays to give particular attention to 
this i)art of the work. It is easier to i)ut the land in good condition 
before planting than after, and. if the trees are to ])ring the results 
desired, it must Ijc done at some time. It is best to clear the lancl a 
year in advance of planting, then grow a crop wf cowi)eas or velvet 
beans and turn it back into the .soil. (h)od results may be secured 
without tliis, but it is a go(Kl plan to follow whenever possible. 
STAKING 
After the land has been well plowed, harrowed and 
leveled, a 3 or 4-foot stake sliould be set where each 
tree is to stand, baths make good stakes for this 
purpose. While a number of different plans may Ije 
used in spacing the trees, it is usually best to' set 
them in sciuares {>r in rectangles. 
PLANTING DISTANCES 
'file distance apart at which the trees should be 
set depends upon the cliaracter of the soil, the mois¬ 
ture it contains, the kind of trees and the ideas of 
the i)lanter. Usually they should be given a goodly 
distance. A table of usual planting distances is 
given on the inside back cover i)age. 
CARE OF TREES ON ARRIVAL 
When the trees arrive, if everything is in readiness, 
they may be taken directly to the held and set out. 
taking the trees from the boxes as needed. If tlie 
number is large, or tlierc is a delay of 
more than a few days, it is best to 
open up the boxes or l)alcs and heel-in 
the trees, 'rids is done 
by digging a trencli deep 
enough to accommodate 
the roots nicely, straiglit 
down on one side, sloping 
out to the ground-level on 
the other. In this trench 
place the roots, the tojjs in 
slanting i)osition. cover with 
earth, packing well among 
the roots, use some water, 
and cover the tops with 
Heeling-in Peach trees 
grass, to shade them, hrom 
tins heehng-in place they may be taken for iJlanting. 
and carefully j^rotected from the sun with damj) bur¬ 
lap until i)Iaccd in the holes. 
DIGGING HOLES—FERTILIZERS 
It is best to dig the holes just in advance of 
planting t() i)revcnt drying or baking; also loss of 
moisture. 'I'lie holes should be made 6 inches wider 
and deeper than necessary to accommodate the 
roots. Place the top-soil in a pile by itself when the 
holes are dug. C'ommercial fertilizer analyzing 
about 6 i)erccnt phosphoric acid. 4 percent ammonia. 
3 per cent potash, may be used at the rate of one- 
half to one pound per tree, thoroughly mi.xed with the 
n 
top-soil in filling in around the roots. We do not 
recommend the use of stable manure in the holes, 
though on jiecans. persimmons, roses an<l orna¬ 
mentals in general, it may be used to advantage as a 
mulch after jilanting, when well rotted. 
Pruning tops of 
Grapefruit trees 
PRUNING 
Srime kinds of nursery trees must l)e iiruned be¬ 
fore shipping. Cithers are not iiruned. It is a safe 
rule with practically all iilants that the tops and 
broken roots should be cut back before planting. 
SETTING THE TREES 
vSet the trees the same deiith thev stood in the 
nursery rows. The exact iioint can be'determined by 
the earth-marks, or the “collar.” C'itrus trees, 
particularly, are very much injured bv too deei) 
planting, and it is a safe rule with all trecvs’ and shrubs 
to set them a little higher than they grew rather 
than lower. Sjjread out the roots carefully by 
hand, and pack the earth well around them. When 
the hole is three-ciuarters filled up, pack thoroughly 
with the feet. This is important. More trees are 
lost from loose packing than from any other cause. 
After packing thoroughly, and before the hole is 
Ciuite filled up. pour in water, especially if the soil 
is dry. As the water sinks down into the earth, it 
helps to pack the soil in all the small corners among 
the roots. When the water has sunk away, fill up 
the balance of the hole, pack again with the feet, 
straighten uii the tree and level ofT. If the weather 
and soil are dry it is often an excellent plan to bank 
Uj) around the tree with dry soil. 'I'his prevents 
evaporation of moisture from the tree, keeps it 
steady in the ground, and is a great iirotection. This 
bank can be removed after it lias served its purpose. 
Banking is a good protection against frost. 
Root-pruning Grape¬ 
fruit trees 
