4 FRUIT BOOK. 



Fruit trees should rarely be placed deeper in the 

 ground than they originally stood in the nursery. 

 In removing large trees, it is a good practice to cut 

 off many of the large roots some distance from the 

 tree a year previous to their removal; for, wher- 

 ever the roots are thus cut through, the new fibres 

 which are emitted (provided the tree is in health) 

 in short tufts, are far more easily taken out of the 

 ground without injury, than if they were longer, 

 and more scattered among the soil. 



Autumnal planting is often preferred in light 

 sandy soils, and spring planting on soils of a strong 

 and wet nature. From our own experience in 

 setting fruit trees for some years past, we are in- 

 clined to prefer the spring, provided it can be done 

 early, particularly for stone fruit. Damp, but not 

 rainy weather should be preferred, particularly in 

 dry soils : nothing is more injurious to any tree 

 than to be taken up, even if immediately after- 

 wards planted, during frosty or dry windy weath- 

 er. Not only do the roots, under such circum- 

 stances, sustain injury during the time they are 

 thus exposed, but the dry parching atmosphere, 

 which must, in such cases, surround the whole 

 surface of the tree, greatly exhausts it ; while it is 

 prevented from absorbing a fresh supply of food 

 from the soil, in consequence of its roots being 

 more or less shortened or diminished by the op- 

 eration. If trees are found to grow too luxuri- 

 antly, and to form only wood for years, even after 

 they are of sufficient size and age for the produc- 

 tion of fruit, the earth should be removed just be- 

 fore the frost sets in, and a proportion of the deep- 

 est growing roots cut off; thus checking its luxu- 

 riousness, and rendering it more fruitful. 



