HOW TO PLANT AND GROW 
FRUIT TREES 
DONT’S. Before setting out fruit trees, the home orchardist 
should be cautioned against practices that cause failure. Do not 
plant fruit trees in poorly drained soils. Do not use any manure 
or fertilizer in the tree holes. Do not plant when the soil is soggy 
or saturated. Do not fail to prune trees as recommended below. 
PLANTING. See Figures 1 and 2. Dig holes more than large 
enough to accommodate the root system. Fill the bottom of the 
hole with topsoil and set the bud union exactly at ground level. 
Fill in with more topsoil, to which has been added peat moss if 
your soil is heavy. Irrigate at once with a slow stream of water in 
the basin constructed after planting. Add more soil as required. 
PRUNING. At planting time, all trees should be cut back at 24 to 
36 inches above the bud union. All of the side branches should 
be eliminated from apricots, plums and prunes. Two or three 
buds should be left on three or four well-spaced branches on 
peaches, nectarines and almonds (see Fig. 1). Apples, pears and 
cherries usually are whips with few or no side branches, but 
should there be any, cut them off. 
Figure 3 shows the development of the average fruit tree after 
the first season’s growth, and how it should be pruned. All va- 
rieties should be thinned out and cut back as indicated in the 
right-hand diagram except cherries, walnuts and figs, which 
should never be cut back, only thinned out. In general, the same 
plan for pruning is followed in succeeding years. 
CULTURE. Irrigate about once each month during the dry season. 
A balanced commercial fertilizer can be applied after the trees 
have been planted about two months, at the rate of about 16 
pound per tree. Use a manure mulch in the basin during fall and 
winter. 


HOW TO PLANT BERRIES 
All varieties require planting in friable,ich soil. Use plenty of gyp- 
sum, peat and manure or compost in preparation to receive the plants. 
STRAWBERRIES. Trim off the roots straight across, halfway. Set 
the plants so that the crown is exactly level with the top of the 
ground. Pack soil firmly about roots and water. Planting distance: 
12 to 18 inches. 
BERRY VINES. These are supplied as rooted tips. Work up the soil 
thoroughly and plunge spade in planting position. Pull back on spade 
and insert plants so that roots will be well covered. Pack soil firmly 
and water. Plant 6 to 8 ft. apart. 
RASPBERRIES. Supplied as rooted cuttings. Cut back to leave only 
three or four buds. Work up ground, plunge spade and insert with 
roots well covered. Firm soil about roots and water. Planting dis- 
tance: about 2 feet. 
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CONCORD GRAPE 
HOW TO PLANT GRAPEVINES 
PLANTING. Grapevines are supplied as one or two-year rooted 
cuttings. Cut back tops to two buds and trim off roots to two inches. 
This pruning is essential though it may sound severe. Work up soil 
(do not add fertilizer) and plunge spade at planting position. Insert 
stem so that only two inches of the top remains above ground. Firm 
soil around roots and stem and water. 
TRAINING AND PRUNING. Provide support for canes or plant 
against wall or fence. Train strongest shoot straight up, permitting 
laterals to grow in horizontal position. Begin pruning after second 
growing season, cutting back spurs on laterals to three or four 
buds on American varieties and to two buds on California varieties. 
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