HENRY LEUTHARDT NURSERY 23 
ATTENTION! 
Care of Fruit Trees on Arrival 
Dwarfs and Espaliers 
Trees are frequently ruined by lack of care, of bad managing after 
they fall into the hands of the purchaser. We have known them 
to lie for days tied up in a bundle just as received from the nur- 
sery, or exposed to sun and wind and then set out. With such 
treatment they cannot be expected to live when one hour’s time 
would have buried them in the ground and placed them beyond 
danger. 
Plant trees immediately upon arrival. Unpack trees without 
exposing the roots to cold air, winds or sun. The roots should 
be covered with a wet blanket or straw until they reach their prop- 
er placing. If the roots become dried from too long exposure, 
straw should be spread on the ground and the trees laid upon it, 
then cover the roots and tops with straw, and the whole well 
watered. In this condition, they should remain for 48 hours when 
they will be found fresh as they were in the nursery. 
If unable to plant trees when received, dig a trench and heel 
in by carefully covering the roots with earth and give a copious 
watering. Trees thus treated can remain in the trenches until 

ready to plant. 
If trees are frozen when received, don't unwrap the bale, but 
place them in the cellar or some cool, dark room that is frost free 
and let them remain until all frost is drawn out, usually from 
36-48 hours. If no cellar or frost proof room, bury the bundle 
in sawdust or dirt until thawed. The point is to get the frost 
entirely out without the sudden exposure of stock to the heat, 
light, and air. Even if frozen solid, the stock will not be injured 
if handled in this manner. 
The HEELING-IN TRENCH should be a foot deep and lo- 
cated where the ground is moist, well drained and pulverized. 
Open the bundles so that you can put the trees or plants in one 
at a time; lean the bodies of the trees over against the bank of 
earth, shovel fine fresh earth over and around the roots, until 
they are covered. Pour on water enough to thoroughly dampen 
the earth around the roots, then fill up the trench until the roots 
and a few inches of body are covered. Now pack the earth well 
with feet, and throw on a few shovels of loose earth to prevent 
baking. The trees will keep perfectly if these directions are fol- 
lowed. 
SOIL PREPARATION—Cultivate thoroughly and deeply, rak- 
ing or harrowing the soil fine to facilitate planting. Dig the hole 
deeper and larger than necessary to admit the entire root system 
in their natural position without crowding or cramping the roots. 
The hole should be at least 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Loosen 
the soil at the bottom of the hole to provide aeration, good drain- 
age, some plant food and a more adaptable condition for root 
development. If this is neglected, the roots are soon surrounded 
by a strong wall and you cannot expect them to live very well. 
Ordinary garden soil is sufficient for the good growth of fruit 
trees. Never let manure come in contact with the roots and 
never use manure at time of planting. Rich soils should be 
avoided since it impairs the bearing of a fruit tree. 
PRUNE BEFORE PLANTING—Both root and top should be 
pruned at time of planting and before the tree is set in the 
ground; the neglect of this causes the loss of an immense number 
of trees. When taken from the nursery, the roots are more or 
less mutilated, therefore the balance of the trees must be restored 
by cutting off a portion of the side and top branches. First cut 
off all broken or bruised roots with a sharp knife in a slanting 
direction, on the underside; this will cause the wound to heal 
over readily, by throwing out plenty of fibrous roots at the end. 
