PLANTING THE TREES. 55 



be taken up and despatched to customers until 

 they have shed their leaves towards the end of 

 November or early in December, according to the 

 character of the weather experienced during the 

 early part of the former month. Weather per- 

 mitting, the trees should be planted as soon as 

 possible after they have come to hand. Assuming 

 the borders or holes to have been prepared in 

 readiness for planting the trees therein, in the 

 manner recommended under the heading " Making 

 the Borders," the recently deposited admixture or 

 loosened natural soil should be excavated to the 

 depth of five or six inches, with sufficient semi- 

 circular space to allow the roots to spread out 

 over the soil in the bottom of the hole. The 

 bottom should be slightly convex in outline, to cover 

 the trees with six inches thick of the same soil. Give 

 each tree an upward shake in planting so as to 

 let the soil well in among the roots; afterwards 

 make the soil moderately firm with the feet 

 before laying on a surface-dressing of half-rotten 

 stable dung to the thickness of about three inches, 

 making allowance in planting for the loose soil, 

 and for the trees subsiding about three inches. 

 Follow all this with an application of clean water to 

 settle the soil about the roots. The main branches 

 should be tied loosely to the trellis for a few weeks, 

 by which time the soil will have settled down to 



