PLANTING 17 



scion 3 inches below the surface, to prevent the scion 

 overgrowing (strangling) the stock. 



The term " stock " is applied to the tree on which the 

 improved variety as a " scion " is propagated by budding or 

 grafting (see p. 92). Grafting is performed in the spring 

 and budding in the summer season. The best propagators 

 prefer budding, as the wound made on the removal of 

 the stock or snag, left above the union of stock and 

 scion, grows over more quickly than where a tree is 

 grafted, and the wound is often not observable in budded 

 trees two years old. 



For planting garden trees the holes need not be deeper 

 than i feet, but the soil below this depth should be broken 

 up with a pick or fork for another 9 inches, and the 

 base of each hole may be opened out a little round the 

 lower edges. 



Before placing the tree, the centre of the hole should 

 be raised 6 inches above the level, in order to prevent 

 water lying at the root. The tree having been previously 

 prepared by cutting back its lower anchor roots and 

 by shortening the straggling roots by 3 or 4 inches, 

 taking care to cut from the under side, the tree is then 

 placed in the hole and some fine soil thrown over the 

 roots, which must be worked in carefully with the fingers 

 between the roots. The tree is then lifted 6 inches and 

 slightly shaken to release the upper roots frem the soil. 

 These are again spread out and more soil added until 

 the hole is three parts filled in, when the tree should be 

 trodden very firmly without breaking the roots. It is 

 necessary to plant as firmly as possible, then fill up the 

 hole with fine soil, having regard to the advice given 



B 



