102 OF PLANTING. SECT. VIII. 



In the cafe of only making the foil good for the pre- 

 font* the firit opportunity, (or at leafl before the roots 

 ipread far J mould be taken to extend the benefit as far 

 as may be, even to feveral yards round, and let this 

 work be done deep enough, or as low as the part 

 made good for firfl planting, i. e. two feet, or as near 

 upon it as the cafe will allow. In a few years this at- 

 tention mould be extended (in bad foils) to where it may 

 be thought pojjlble for the roots to have re.ched. For 

 want of this, a tree fometimes fails when juff come to 

 its full fize.and principal time lor bearing. When 

 roots reach a weak, ill-conditioned, poifonous foil, the 

 tree tnufi IV! ; and it mould be remembered, that the 

 extreme branches of the root are what chiefly nourifh a 

 plant, and not thofe about the ftem. 



Fruit trees (though they like a rather Jlrong foil) 

 will not profper, or hardly grow, in a eold clay; but 

 in a foil that is tolerable above, they may be planted, 

 by improving, or railing this, as the cafe may require, 

 and cautioully avoiding going into the clay. Some 

 perfons have laid flat hones, or tiles, below the root to 

 aconfiderable diflance, which perhaps may anfwer ; but 

 it feems advifable only to do it about afoot fquare, (or a 

 little more) as this may give the roots a dehrable hori- 

 zontal direction. It has been recommended to do this 

 in all kinds of foil, in order to infure a more fuperficial 

 fpread,than without fuch contrivance could be expected. 

 If the fcil be good, (at the fame time ilrong) above any- 

 bad foil, and the roots take to run towards the furiace, 

 it is furprifing how trees will thus profper. 



When planting takes place fuperf daily, let a hillock 

 of earth be laid round the roots, and the tree focured by 

 a flake for two or three years to hold it Ready ; and 

 keep turf ox mojs about the root till the tree is well 

 eftablifhcd. The hill may be from fix inches to half a 

 yard high ; in the latter cafe, lowering it a few inches 

 every year in autumn till within fix ot the root. 



In 



