REMOVING AND TRANSPLANTING TREES. 97 



face of the ground. We raised a mound of mellow earth 

 around it, a few inches higher than it had been gnawed, and 

 covered it with sods. The next season the hens scratched 

 away some of this earth, and we discovered that there was 

 a system of young roots from six to ten inches long just 

 below. the surface of this mound. From these considera- 

 tions, it is safe to conclude that there is great danger of 

 planting trees too deep, and that the most proper depth is 

 not more than two or three inches below the surface of the 

 ground. We always fill the holes for trees even-full with 

 the general surface of the ground, before the trees are 

 placed in their position; and we have always found that 

 they would settle down in a few months as far as they 

 should ever be set. If the soil is well pulverized beneath 

 the roots, they will soon occupy the whole space below, and 

 will take a firmer hold of the earth than if they were placed 

 as deep in the mellow-bed as they stood in the nursery. 

 Allowance must be made for settling, when the soil is very 

 wet. 



Transplanting in Autumn, or in the Spring. The ques- 

 tion is, which season is the better one ? In some instances 

 autumn is preferable, and in others spring offers advantages. 

 If the condition of soil and trees are the same, we have 

 never been able to perceive any difference. Still both pe- 

 riods have their advocates ; and there are about as many 

 arguments in favor of one season as the other. If the work 

 be well performed in the spring, just before the buds begin 

 to swell, trees can not be transplanted in a more favorable 

 period than that. When apple-trees are set out in spring, 

 they come fresh and vigorous from the ground, from which 

 they are withdrawn easily, the soil having been mellowed by 

 the winter frost. As soon as out, they are ready to recover 

 by immediate growth from the effects of removal ; the buds 

 swell and expand into fresh leaves, and new shoots rapidly 



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