62 THE BOOK OF PEARS AND PLUMS 



PLANTING 



Planting is a matter of supreme importance, but the 

 rules for pears and plums are very much the same. 

 Especial care must be taken if the soil is heavy and 

 loaded with moisture. Put the trees on arrival in a 

 trench (see before), and wait until the ground is fit 

 and the soil as fine as possible so that the roots may 

 run freely through it. Get the stakes ready and place 

 them in position before planting. Bind the tree, if tall, 

 at once when planted to the stake by soft willow twigs 

 or other means, taking every care that the bark is 

 not rubbed by the stake. Old cloth or carpet may be 

 used for this purpose, tarred twine or cord being passed 

 round it. Dry stakes well tarred, often last as long as 

 they are needed. 



WHAT is YOUR OBJECT ? 



What is your object ? Before choosing varieties, 

 or planting, it is advisable to ask yourself, what 

 is my object ? On the answer the form of planta- 

 tion and the choice of trees must depend. If for a 

 private house only, the answer is easy. Then comes 

 the question, Is there a wall, and if so, what is the 

 soil and the aspect ? Is there an Orchard House ? If 

 for market, for what market are you preparing ? In the 

 Midlands, the Pershore ( = Gisborne's) is a great favourite ; 

 in London, the Early Orleans and the Egg Plum ; in the 

 North, the Black Diamond, the Wydale and others. In 

 planting damsons the same question should be put. 

 The Midland people won't have the Farleigh Prolific so 

 popular in Kent, and they are right; the Shropshire 

 folks think their damson the best of all and many agree 

 with them. Are you near a jam factory ? What plums 

 do they desire or require ? Local circumstances and 

 wants should have great weight. If you are near a 



