STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



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you will lose man}' of your trees, but if raius follow and settle the 

 earth around the roots, probably every tree will live. Allow me 

 to say here, though not pomological it is arboricultural, a subject 

 embraced by our Society, that the proper time for plantiuG; ever- 

 green trees is very different from that for deciduous. The time 

 for planting evergreen trees such as the Norway Spruce, Hemlock, 

 etc., is either in Ma}-, just as the new leaves put forth, generally 

 towards the last of May, or else in August when the second growth; 

 puts forth. I think I have generally been more sure of success in 

 August than in jNIay, but either will do. In planting an orchard, 

 great care is necessary. The ground should be prepared as for a 

 crop of corn. Then procure trees with good roots, not dried by 

 exposure to sun and wind. Avoid if possible setting them out on a 

 ver}' wind}' day. From my own experience, and that of many 

 others, I should advise that apple trees should be planted thirty feet 

 apart each way, never less. A tree forty or fifty years old will oftent 

 cover a space forty feet in diameter — I have often seen trees planted' 

 eighteen feet or less apart. These do well for a few years, but 

 after twenty years when the trees should be in full bearing you will 

 find only the outside trees bearing good fruit, the rest are so crowded 

 and shaded they bear but little fruit and that small and without color. 

 A word or two now as to the mode of planting Dig a hole the 

 size of the roots, and six to twelve inches deeper than you wish to . 

 set the tree, then all around the hole undermine the sod at least six 

 inches. This is to enable the roots to make a ready start. Next 

 in the centre of the hole, make a little mound of good earth, six to 

 twelve inches high, set the tree upon this, cai^efully stretching out 

 the roots, then be careful to cover all the roots with good soil, and 

 especially fill the hollow beyond the roots with the same, and as you 

 proceed in filling in the earth, occasionally lift or shake the tree so 

 as to be sure there is no space not filled with earth, and the last 

 operation is to press the earth very firmly around the tree. Planted 

 in this way no stake is required, and if the tree was all right when 

 set out it will be sure to grow. In France they transplant the largest 

 trees with uniform success. I remember when in Paris, passing by 

 the Place de la Bourse. This was a paved avenue or court of some 

 length, at the end of it stood that splendid building, the Exchange, 

 tbe centre of the commercial operations of France. I was absent a 

 few months, and upon my return what was my amazemeut.at seeing 



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