TRANSPLANTING THE QUINCE, 49 
and wider than the roots are long. In most soils it pays 
to dig a hole from four to six feet across to plant a one 
year old tree, and still wider for older trees. Throw out 
the subsoil by itself, and either spread it around on the 
surface, to be acted on by sun, rain, and frost, or to be re- 
moved for other uses. ‘The top soil is then filled into the 
bottom of the hole, and the tree set on this so as to be a 
little deeper than it was before. Fill in among the roots 
with rich soil rather than manure ; for though it may be 
well rotted, it will be generally too dry, and if fresh will 
injure by the fungi it produces. Rich manuring on the 
top of the ground after the tree is planted will promote 
a vigorous growth. When the hole is nearly filled, a 
very liberal mulch of leaves, straw, or any such materiai 
should be well spread in, and covered up with earth. It 
will prevent the tree from suffering in drought, promote 
the absorption of nitrogen from the air, and by rotting 
become a good fertilizer. If the tree has large roots, 
great care is needed to insure them against hollows that 
produce decay. <A little water may be needed to make 
sure that the earth presses against every part. After 
the operation is well performed, watering on the surface 
will not be needed, as the mulch prevents evaporation. 
If so watered at transplanting as to get the earth well 
pressed against the roots, and then properly mulched, 
trees will never need watering again, except by natural 
rains. 
How much rooin to give the quince depends on cir- 
cumstances and surroundings, and the form of head de- 
sired. Such writers as Cole, Thomas, and Downing rec- 
ommend six, eight, ten, and twelve feet apart. I have 
tried them all, and decided on fifteen feet as being close 
enough for the highest success. By studying the possi- 
bilities of this fruit, we must .decide how wide we will 
plant. Sometimes a quince tree exceeds all expectation. 
In 1857 there was a quince tree near Geneva, New York, 
