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. Eich 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 material 

 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 room 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, 



