PLANTING 15 



will also be in danger of descending into the subsoil, 

 than which nothing is more detrimental to the successful 

 bearing of an apple tree. 



If, on the other hand, the tree is placed too high, 

 it will not be firm, will be very liable to be blown 

 about by the wind, and never will obtain a firm 

 root-hold. 



The best guide to the proper planting of an apple 

 tree is to place it the same depth as it was before, 

 and this can easily be found out by examination of the 

 stem, for upon the latter will be seen the soil-mark, 

 showing exactly how much of it was covered before. 

 It is, however, always well to be able to make certain 

 that the depth at which the tree was previously planted 

 is correct ; and for this to be so, the uppermost roots, 

 when finally covered, should be within three or four 

 inches of the surface of the ground. If these two rules 

 are adhered to, the beginner in planting cannot go far 

 wrong. 



With the hole two feet deep above the bottom soil 

 that has been well turned over, it will most probably 

 be too deep for the apple tree if this is to be brought to 

 its proper height. First make the basal soil firm by 

 treading, and then fill the hole with a mixture of the old 

 soil and a little new until it is high enough to receive 

 the plant ; this soil also being made firm. Take care 

 that the centre of the hole is slightly higher than are 

 the sides, so that, when water is afterwards given, it 

 may not make its way right under the plant, which it 

 would be likely to do were the centre lower than the 

 sides, but will rather find its way in between the roots 

 spread out all around. 



Having made sure that the soil is of the proper height 

 and has been made firm, place the plant upon it, and 

 quite in the centre of the hole. Then spread out the 

 lowest roots of the plant evenly and carefully upon the 



