ORCHARDS AND FRUIT CULTURE. Q± 



undesirable to attempt to plant. The roots of a tree, in its trans- 

 portation from the nursery, and while being- planted, should never 

 be exposed to frosts If carefully wrapped and covered with moss 

 and earth, they may endure this exposure, but there is a damage 

 to the vitality of the tree, if only a part of the roots are frozen. 

 I have seen them go back and back, through two or three years of 

 existence, where they had been frozen, and finally take their 

 departure, much to my satisfaction, if they could not do any bet- 

 ter ; and I could attribute it to no other cause except the freezing 

 of the roots while they were«out of the ground. If possible, the 

 roots should always be kept moist, so that all the little fibres, 

 which are exceedingly delicate, may be preserved. You know 

 that this is an absolute necessity with evergreens ; the roots must 

 never become dry; and although the roots of fruit trees will bear 

 some exposure of that kind, still everything in that direction is 

 just so far wrong, and should be avoided. 



In planting the tree, carefully work in about the roots with the 

 hand fine pulverized mixed soil, just the soil that is produced by 

 the culture of the field in corn or potatoes for a year or two, gent- 

 ly, very gently shaking the tree. The operation must be a gentle 

 one, so as not to bruise the roots or cause them to lodge in a 

 crooked position. Having spread them out carefully at first, and 

 when carefully covered with a few inches of this fine soil, the 

 operation will be very much facilitated by pouring in a few quarts 

 of water, and allowing the earth to settle away before filling up 

 the hole. This is much preferable to attempting to plant a tree 

 during rainy or bad weather. I have never had less satisfaction 

 in planting trees than when I have attempted to do it in rainy 

 weather. It is an operation requiring care, and one which will 

 not admit of being hurried ; and although we like to keep the 

 roots wet, and would think a rainy day was a good day for this 

 work, it is not the best day ; we do not do the work as thorough- 

 ly and carefully as it should be done. 



If the roots are well-balanced and the top properly shortened 

 in, there will be little if any need of staking the trees. There is 

 as much, and perhaps more damage done to the trunk and to the 

 branches by attempting to stake them, than by leaving them un- 

 supported, so that I should advise the securing of trees by their 

 roots ; and if this be done the tops require nothing of the kind. A 

 field devoted to orchard planting should be so fenced that all 

 animals are excluded, so that the young tree may never be 



