6 THE BOOK OF PEARS AND PLUMS 



have free play. Should the soil be light, well-decayed 

 manure may be dug in, especially if it has been well 

 mixed some time beforehand with turfy or good loam. 

 In strong soil, no manure is needed. When the trees 

 arrive, do not unpack them until you are ready to plant. 

 Exposure of the roots to the air should be avoided as 

 much as possible. If delay occurs from rain, frost, or 

 any other cause, put the roots in the ground, laying 

 the trees in a slanting position in a trench, and covering 

 the roots thoroughly with soil. Choose, too, a sheltered 

 position in the garden for the trench. Should the 

 ground be hard from frost, do not unpack the trees ; 

 keep them under cover, and protect them as far as 

 possible from cold and frost. When the ground is fit 

 and the weather favourable, open the earth 2 to 3 feet 

 across at a depth of 12 to 1 8 inches according to the 

 class and size of the tree and roots. Carefully examine 

 the roots. Cut off the points of any jagged or torn roots 

 cleanly with a sharp knife, and shorten all downward and 

 coarse roots. Cut on the under side, and towards the 

 outside, so that the tree may lie flat. Avoid any injury 

 to the rootlets. The aid of a lad will be useful to hold 

 the tree in its place while the gardener is planting. 

 Spread the roots and rootlets carefully out with an 

 upward rather than a downward tendency. Then scatter 

 fine soil amid them, shaking the trees occasionally, adding 

 more soil until it stands erect. Now tread in the soil 

 firmly, and fill up the hole with fresh soil, raising the 

 earth several inches above the ordinary level. The soil 

 will sink after a time, and occasionally more soil may be 

 added subsequently. But deep planting should always 

 be avoided. 



With pears on the Quince, it is important that all the 

 quince stock should be covered by the soil, as it suffers 

 in dry weather if exposed, and the fruit would therefore 

 be affected. All buds on this stock should on this 



