Show O. O O 0 I Q Q PRUNE ROOT SYSTEM OF NEWLY VLY SET TREE The transplanting of most ta o fruit trees and of many other r plants lants l Is le usually accompanied by the loss oss of a n part of ot the large roots and of ot the fibrous ro roots rota and by y the destruction of practically all aU of the he root hairs Before active absorption lon Uon can cnn begin after transplanting root hairs must be formed and these hese new root hairs will wilt be formed only on new lIe v branch rootlets In order to o encourage a rapid development of these hese branch rootlets and root hairs the lie root s system that was formed In Inthe Inthe the he nursery should be pruned This fact act Is often overlooked overlooK Ill I'll says 12 Il I II U. l Hawl assistant extension horticulturist at Clemson college With peaches apples and plums the roots should be shortened to a length ot of ab about ut six or eight Inches on n all sides sidell All fibrous roots less than thun an on eighth or a quarter of ot an Inch In la dIem eter may be removed remond entirely These rhese fine tine roots which are usually dea deal dead l al B. ordinary nursery stock Is received e t make It difficult to pack the soil solI In tn contact with the main roots All broken or badly roots I should be t e cut back to firm wood When the roots are pruned In In this manner they will soon callus over otherwise many of the long broken or bruised roots will deco decay and fibrous roots and root hairs will form Corm very ery slowly when spring growth Is Initiated The knife knits Is ill much more convenient than shears I for trimming the roots I The The trees should never neve be planted before the land has been thoroughly prepared by deep plowing and bar har rowing The holes should be dug only deep and wide enough to accommodate the root system conveniently If the main roots are arc pruned to a of six Inches then a n hole 14 Inches In diameter will be sufficiently large If It the hole Is either too deep or too loo shallow shallow low I this should be rf remedied before placing the tree tret The fir first t few shovels of It earth should be fine and the planter should hold the tree firmly In place with one hand and distribute the Ole soil under and over over the roots with the other The roots should be carefully spread out In all nil directions more soil spread od over them and firmed under and around the roots and Into the crotches If It the soil sallis la is In good condition and i nd not too wet there JS Is no danger of ot packIng packIng packing pack- pack Ing It too firmly The top Inch or tw two of soil should not be packed but left loose as a mulch When the planting Is finished the ground about the tree should be level The tree should be planted the same some depth In the orchard as It stood In the nursery row though th there re is no harm In planting It one- one half to one Inch deeper than It stood In the nursery row |