PL/VNTING. 105 



The ground, even of a light soil, is trodden hard 

 when wet, and is thus left in the most unfit condition 

 for future cultivation. Contrary to the usual belief, 

 the day selected ought not only to be dry, but at 

 least two or three days should have elapsed after the 

 falling of rain, before planting is commenced. The 

 soil being now prepared, and the holes dug according 

 to the directions given, let one person hold tlie tree in 

 an upright condition, and another with a shaking 

 motion of the shovel t^ift the mould among the roots, 

 ooccasionally stopping to lift those roots that have 

 fallen below tlieir natural position. The necessity of 

 attending: careful! v to this latter direction will be 

 seen from the fact that the roots of trees, especially 

 when fibrous, are thrown out in layers so as to reach 

 different strata of earth, and that no two roots can be 

 found growing in contact. Consequently, Avhen the 

 roots are pressed down in a mass, the energies of the 

 tree must be greatly crippled, and its growth retarded. 

 AVlien the roots have been jDartially covered l)y shak- 

 ing in the pulverized earth, the person holding the 

 tree may, by a slight tremulous motion, sift the finer 

 particles among the fibrous roots, and thus separate 

 them more completely ; but carefully avoiding to lift 

 the tree so as to alter its level, or tear its roots. To 

 prevent the formation of a hollow beneatli the forked 

 roots of a tree, a mound of firm earth should be formed 

 in the hole upon which the tree is to be planted, and 

 care observed to press the earth into any space that 

 may remain. 



If the tree is found to be planted too deeply, it 

 must not be lifted, with all the weight of soil upon it, 



5* 



