PLANTING AND PRUNING ORCHARD TREES. 521 
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PLANTING. 
Before planting, I would have the ground thoroughly plowed, 
turning the back furrows where the rows are to be. 
The holes should be dug only deep enough to permit the tree 
to be planted as it stood in the nursery, and wide enough to 
permit every root to be planted in a natural position. The 
newer the land, the better; if not new, it should be well manur¬ 
ed, and the manure thoroughly worked in with the plow. 
No manure should be put in the hole at the time the tree is 
planted. After planting the ground for two or three feet about 
the tree it should be covered with manure or litter; we have 
saved many trees by this mulching, and got a much better 
growth than we could have had without it. 
I formerly pruned the tops of my trees before planting, but 
my observations have satisfied me that it is not a good practice. 
I have noticed that some trees in my vicinity which were 
planted without being pruned at all, did much better than mine 
which were cut in pretty close. 
THE CHESTNUT. 
The Chestnut, with me, is perfectly hardy, does well, and 
comes into bearing young. 
Some trees which were quite small when planted, eight years 
ago, have borne fruit for five years. 
The tree is a moderate grower. 
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