FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 75 



there is a frequent error in planting trees, which 

 is, that their roots are planted too shallow, so that 

 the drought affects their fibrous roots, and they 

 cannot cling to and draw nutriment from the soil ; 

 they are, therefore, eventually dried up, and the fol- 

 lowing season, the main roots have to produce new 

 fibres to draw nutriment from the soil. 



The true system for planting trees is to follow 

 their natural depth and location as much as possible, 

 which can easily he obtained by examining the depth 

 and natural position of the roots before removal. 



In the many authors I have perused, I have not 

 read any satisfactory description of a method of plant- 

 ing fruit trees. They all agree that the hole intend- 

 ed for the tree should be dug larger than the circum- 

 ference of its roots, in order to give it a free 

 expansion without cramping in the hole, which is 

 often the case in inexperienced hands. The next 

 point agreed upon is the breaking up, mixing and 

 pulverizing the bottom of the hole, so that the under 

 tier of roots may strike freely, and quickly be estab- 

 lished in the soil : after this preparation, the plant- 

 ing is recommended to be done, by placing the tree 

 in the centre of the hole, filling it up about halfway, 

 and then gently shaking it upwards in order to draw 

 the roots in their proper position, and treading close 

 the fine earth to them. This method is not correct 

 either in theory or practice ; for in most cases the 

 roots must most certainly be forced out of their 

 natural position, in the first place, by pressing the 

 upper tier of roots to the bottom of the hole with 

 the earth and treading, which should according to 

 their natural position, be placed near the earth's sur- 

 face ; in the second place, the roots are drawn up and 



