SECRETARY'S REPORT. I73 



earth about them raised in a corresponding degree. Pears upon 

 quince roots should be set so that the point of junction between 

 the pear and quince be three inches beloiv the surface. Dwai'f apples 

 may be set so that the junction shall be just even with the surface. 



When the tree is set, do not neglect to mulch it, by laying 

 around for a distance of three or four feet, and two or three inches 

 in depth, a covering of some kind — coarse manure and half-rotted 

 leaves from the forest are the best materials. If these are not to 

 be had, refuse hay, straw or seaweed answer a good purpose, and 

 even spent tan or sawdust are better than nothing. This covering 

 preserves a uniformity of moisture and of temperature about the 

 roots, and is of great value throughout the whole of the first year's 

 growth. In nearly all cases it obviates any need of subsequent 

 watering, which as often done, is a most injurious practice ; it be- 

 ing as easy to kill a recently transplanted tree by drowning as by 

 drouth ; and sometimes trees are killed by drouth caused by water- 

 ing, which happens when a little is poured over the surface causing 

 the formation of a liard crust, and thus preventing the soil from 

 retaining moisture. If it becomes necessary to apply water, first 

 remove the mulch and a little of the earth, and after watering re- 

 place them both. 



Season. There is considerable difterence of opinion whether 

 autumn or spring is the better time for this operation. Both have 

 their advantages and disadvantages. If set in the ftill there is the 

 danger of winter killing and crushing by the snows of one season, 

 or, if the ground be bare, of the roots being injured by excessive 

 freezing, or freezing and thawing alternately. On the other hand, 

 it is a season of more leisure, and the work is likely to be more 

 faithfully done, and if not quite so well done as it should be, the 

 latter rains settle the earth more completely about the roots. The 

 ground, too, is in better condition to work, and what perhaps is 

 the chief advantage, trees *set in autumn, although they do not 

 start so early and vigorously, sufler much less from the droughts 

 of summer. Autumn planting succeeds far better in light, dry 

 soils than in heavy loams. In any soil it is needful to pile a little 

 hillock of earth about the tree after planting, to be removed in 

 spring and replaced by a mulch. If there be any doubt as to the 

 hardiness of the tree planted, spring should be preferred. When 

 planted in spring, the earlier it is done, 'after the ground is in proper 

 condition to luork, the better. A very common error is to defer it 

 too long. 



