Transplanting. 67 



The following additional rules, self-evident to men of experience; 

 are continually disregarded by novices in setting out orchards and 

 fruit gardens : 



1. If the roots of a tree are frozen out of the ground, and thawed 

 again in contact with air, the tree is killed. 



2. If the frozen roots are well buried, filling all cavities before 

 thawing any at all, the tree is uninjured. 



3. Manure should never be placed in contact with the roots of a 

 tree, in setting it out, but old finely pulverized earthy compost an- 

 swers well. 



4. A small or moderate sized tree at the time of transplanting 

 will usually become large and bearing sooner than a larger tree 

 set out at the same time, and which is checked in growth by 

 removal. 



5. To guard against mice in winter with perfect success, make a 

 small, compact, smooth earth mound nearly a foot high, around the 

 stem of each young orchard tree. 



6. The roots of a tree extend nearly as far on each side as the 

 height of the tree ; and hence to dig it up by cutting a circle with a 

 spade half a foot in diameter, cuts off more than nine-tenths of the 

 roots. 



7. Watering a tree in dry weather affords but temporary relief, 

 and often does more harm than good, by crusting the surface. 

 Keeping the surface constantly mellow is much more valuable and 

 important or if this cannot be done, mulch well. If watering is 

 ever done from necessity, remove the top earth, pour in the water, 

 and then replace the earth then mulch, or keep the surface very 

 mellow. 



8. Shrivelled trees may be made plump before planting, by cover- 

 ing tops and all with earth for several days. 



9. Young trees may be manured to great advantage by spreading 

 manure over the roots as far as they extend, or over a circle whose 

 radius is equal to the height of the tree, in autumn or early winter, 

 and spading this manure in in spring. 



10. Never set young trees in a grass field, or among wheat, or 

 other sowed grain. Clover is still worse, as the roots grow deep, 

 and rob the tree-roots. The whole surface should be clean and 

 mellow ; or if any crops are suffered, they should be potatoes, car- 

 rots, turnips, or other low-hoed crops. 



11. Constant, clean, and mellow cultivation is absolutely neces- 

 sary at all times for the successful growth of the peach-tree, at any 

 age ; it is as necessary for a young plum-tree, but not quite so much 



