CULTIVATION OF THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 659 



refilled with earth, and, when this shall have been done, their roots 

 may be compactly covered about with the fine and mellow earth of 

 which we have said the soil of the orchard should be composed. It 

 is of the utmost consequence that, as they are set in the ground, 

 and before the earth is thrown in upon the roots, all the fibres 

 of the roots should, as nearly as possible, be in their natural posi- 

 tion. Then the soil should be put securely and firmly, not only 

 around, but also under every part of the roots. The earth should be 

 gently " tamped " as it is filled in about the roots, and should the 

 season of the year be one of drouth, or should the earth be particularly 

 dry, this process may be aided by pouring a little water occasionally 

 upon the soil for the purpose of settling it, and making it compact 

 and firm about the roots. When the trees are placed in the places 

 prepared for them, those which are in need of support may be 

 fastened to the stakes provided for them, as we have suggested. 

 This, however, should never be done without binding the stem of 

 the tree with cloth, so that there shall not be any danger of the bark 

 becoming injured by the stake rubbing against it. Rotten hay or 

 straw, sometimes known as mulch, should be laid down about the 

 roots. 



These few directions observed, with reasonable care the tree will 

 thrive without further attention, and will yield fruit at its proper 

 time of maturity. If the soil shows that there is a necessity for fer- 

 tilization, then the fertilizer, whether it be of manure, guano, or any 

 compost, may be added as the experience and observation of the 

 farmer may suggest. 



Best Season for Transplanting What is the best season 

 for transplanting trees remains a debatable proposition. Some 

 persons, who are successful fruit cultivators, advocate the spring, 

 and others equally successful advocate the autumn. Consultation 

 with the best authorities leads us to the belief that the latter is the 

 more advantageous season; bat, notwithstanding this, so many have 

 succeeded best from transplanting in the earlier season that it may 

 well be left to the choice of the farmer, and governed by considera- 

 tions of convenience. Much will, however, depend upon the parti- 

 cular part of the country in which the orchard is to be located. In 

 the gulf States, and those which border upon the Atlantic Ocean, it 

 seems that the season coming between the autumn and the spring, 

 say, January and February, would be the more advantageous time. 

 In the Northwest and in the North, and on the Pacific, we would 

 suggest, if it be convenient so to do, that the intending fruit grower 

 should make an experiment both in regard to the autumn and the 

 spring:, and select that season which the result shall show to be 

 the more desirable for the actual locality in which he dwells. In 

 different parts of our country, extending as it does through so many 

 degrees of latitude, there are many varying seasons, and not infre- 

 quently a spring which would be considered most uniform is fol- 

 lowed by an autumn which has all the good qualities for the 



