Quality Fruit Trees 17 

How to Plant a Fruit Tree 
Land Selection 
A few fundamental princip!es must be observed in planting fruit 
trees in order to obtain the best results. Foremost in importance 
is the selection of land best adapted for each type of fruit. 
Soil Preparation and Planting 
Either prepare the land as you would for any other farm crop 
or garden or arrange to mulch the trees after planting. If the 
mulch system is used, it is not necessary to cultivate land, before 
planting. 
It is a good plan to soak the roots over-night, submerged in 
water before planting, especially if there has been some delay in 
planting. Do not expose trees to sun, wind or freezing. Keep roots 
submerged in pail of water or covered with a wet sack while 
digging the holes. 
Dig the hole big enough to easily receive the roots comfortably 
without bending or twisting them. The top soil is placed in one pile 
and the subsoil in another in digging the hole so that in filling 
them up, the rich top soil can be placed around the tree roots. The 
bottom of the hole should have the soil loosened and pulverized 
for a depth of 2 or 3 inches. Remove all broken roots from the 
tree. Set the tree upright near the center of the hole, so that the 
graft is at least an inch below the level of the soil, spread out the 
roots evenly. Fill the hole three-fourths full of good top soil and 
tamp it firmly as you add each shovel full. It is of prime impor- 
tance that the entire root system is in close contact with the soil. 
When the hole is three-fourths full, pour in two gallons of water 
and allow the water to soak in before filling the balance of the hole, 
the water will help to firm the soil around the roots, and provide 
moisture. If possible use only rich top soil to entirely fill the hole. 
Leave the surface of the soil loose. Caution: do not add any fer- 
tilizer or Manure in the hole as you fill it—Manure and commer- 
cial fertilizer should be put on top of the soil only after the tree is 
planted, otherwise there may be some root damage. Be sure that 
your trees are so firmly set that they cannot be pulled up without 
a great deal of difficulty. When ground is completely filled into 
hole provide for a depression around the tree to catch rain. 
Important: Remove label wires to prevent cutting limbs. To pre- 
vent damage from field mice and other rodents use hardware 
cloth to make a simple collar around the base of the tree. The 
collar should be securely closed and approximately 14 inches high 
and bottom placed tightly against the ground. 
Care of Stock on Arrival 
If you cannot plant your trees as soon as they arrive, put them 
in a cool cellar and dampen roots. When planting is going to be 
