364 Journal of Agriculture. [8 June, 1908. 



HIXTS 0^" PLANTIXG FRUIT TREES. 



C. T. Cole, Inspector, V egetation Diseases Act. 



There are four things essential to the welfare of newly planted trees, 

 viz., Trenching, Draining, Planting, and .Mulching. Most people think 

 if they procure a young fruit tree or vine from a nursery, dig a. hole in 

 their garden and put it in, that it will be sure to grow and bear fruit. 

 They are, however, often disappointed and nurserymen get the blame for 

 selling them inferior trees or plants. If a little thought were exercised 

 in the preparation of the ground and other matters, the results would be 

 more satisfactory to all concerned. Beginners and others will find the 

 following short instructions helpful. 



Trenching. — Trench the ground from 15 to 20 inches deep if the 

 soil be rich, such as is found on the banks of rivers and creeks. Should it be 

 poor and sandy, 2 feet will not be too much ; but if the ^o\\ be good, 

 although not so rich as that found by the sides of rivers and creeks, 20 inches 

 will be found quite deep enough. Many think it necessary to turn the 

 subsoil on the surface ; but my experience in many places makes me favor 

 rataining the surface soil in its natural place. When good drainage is 

 provided, 6 inches may be added to the depths mentioned, but in no 

 case trench deep where the water cannot readily be got away. I have 

 seen a piece of ground trenched where a clayey subsoil was thrown on 

 the surface; the trees were duly planted, but the first few heavy rains 

 ran the surface together like cement, and it took years of working and 

 manuring to bring it into a nice open soil again. During this time the original 

 surface soil was below, entirely out of the influence of the atmosphere, 

 and when turned up for a new plantation was quite sodden, and sour ; the 

 roots had not penetrated it, nor never would, although it was by far the 

 better soil. The ground had not been drained by either of the methods 

 mentioned further on ; otherwise the result would have been much more 

 satisfactory. Even then it was doubtful whether it would not have been 

 better if the subsoil had been left where nature had placed it. 



In performing the work, supposing the depth of the trenching to be 

 15 inches, the soil should be removed from the first trench to the depth 

 of 10 inches, and the remaining 5 inches of subsoil turned up in the 

 bottom of the trench, and there allowed to remain as turned up, without 

 being finely broken. The next trench should be opened, filling up the 

 one previously made; dig up the subsoil as before, and so on, every 

 successive trench. If 20 inches is the desired depth, dig the first trench 

 out 12 inches deep, and break up the remaining 8 inches of subsoil as 

 mentioned for the 15 inches. When 24 inches is the depth desired, the 

 first trench should be dug out 14 inches deep, breaking up the remaining 

 JO inches as before. 



If this mode of preparing the soil is adopted, the trees or vines cannot 

 fail to make good headway. It will be seen from the foregoing that, 

 though the surface soil has been moved to a considerable depth, it is 

 still retained near the surface where the trees can get the benefit of it, 

 whilst the lowest subsoil moved is allowed to remain below. 



When the soil is not very good, or an old plantation is being dug 

 up for a second planting, a moderate application of manure dug into the 

 bottom of the trench will prove of great advantage. The surface can be 

 manured at convenience, after the trees are planted; this is necessary when 

 the soil is naturallv DOOr. 



