82 ORCHARDS. 



easy access among tbe cavities. To exclude mice eifectually, 

 the heeling ground should be clean, and a smooth mound raised 

 on all sides about the trees. 



General Directions. — " Dig holes, in the first place, large 

 enough to admit the roots of the tree to spread out in their 

 natural position. Then, having the tree propeily pruned, let 

 one person hold it in an upright position and the other shovel 

 in the earth, carefully putting in the finest and best from the 

 surface in among the roots, filling every interstice, and bring- 

 ing every root in contact with the soil. When the earth is 

 nearly filled, a pail of water may be thrown on to settle and 

 wash in the earth around the roots ; then fill in the remainder, 

 and tread gently with the foot. The use of water is seldom 

 necessary, except in dry weather, early in Fall, or late in 

 Spring. Guard against planting too deep; the trees, after 

 the ground settles, should stand, in this respect, as they did 

 in the nursery. Trees on dwarf stocks should stand so that 

 all the stock be under the ground, and no more. In very dry, 

 gravelly ground, the holes should be dug twice the usual 

 size and depth, and filled with good loamy soil." [Ellwan- 

 der tf* Barry.) We endorse the above, and shall proceed to 

 quote other authors on this subject. 



Coxe, in his "View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees in 

 the United States," says : 



" The proper season for planting will be found to depend 

 on a variety of circumstances. In liojht soils, the Winter set- 

 ties the earth around the roots, and best secures them against 

 drought — it is a time of leisure to the farmer. In stiff, wet 

 soils, Spring planting is preferred, other things being equal. 

 Have planted at both seasons, and generally found that care 

 and attention ensured corresponding success in the growth of 

 trees. In whatever season an orchard is planted, be careful 

 to extend the roots in every direction; to cut off all wounded 

 parts, and especially not to plant too deep ; plant with about 

 three inches of earth over the upper tier of roots — which will 

 make it about two inches deeper than it stood in the nursery ; 

 after^being partially covered, the tree should be well shaken, 

 to admit the finer particles of earth among the fibrous roots ; 



