O FRUIT BOOK. 



bruised or broken roots. Hold the tree upright, 

 while another person, making the earth fine, gradu- 

 ally distributes it among the roots. Shake the tree 

 gently while this filling is going on. The main 

 secret lies in carefully filling in the mould, so that 

 every root may meet the soil ; and, to secure this, 

 let the operator, with his hand, spread out the small 

 roots, and fill in the earth nicely around every one. 

 Nine tenths of the deaths by transplanting arise 

 from the hollows left among the roots of trees by a 

 rapid and careless mode of shovelling the earth 

 among the roots. 



" 3. When the hole is two thirds filled, pour in a 

 pail or two of water. This will settle the soil, and 

 fill up any little vacuities that may remain. Wait 

 until the water has sunk away, and then fill up the 

 hole, pressing the earth moderately around the 

 trees with the foot. The moist earth, being covered 

 by the loose surface soil, will retain its humidity for 

 a long time. Indeed, we rarely find it necessary to 

 water again after planting in this way, and a little 

 muck or litter placed around the tree, upon the 

 newly moved soil, will render it quite unnecessary. 

 Frequent surface watering is highly injurious, as it 

 causes the top of the soil to bake so hard as to 

 prevent the access of air and light, both of which, 

 in a certain degree, are absolutely necessary. 



" 4. Avoid the prevalent error (so common and 

 so fatal in this country) of planting your trees too 

 deep. They should not be planted more than an 

 inch deeper than they stood before. If they are 



