lift 



necessity for deep working is not so great. Care should be taken in 

 preparing the land not to turn up a poor subsoil to the surface, it being 

 sufficient to merely move or stir the ground. Many have made the great 

 mistake of trenching up several inches of a bad subsoil to the surface, 

 and the unsatisfactory results have caused them to condemn deep 

 working. Drainage is a matter that should receive due attention, as 

 trees cannot thrive if they are standing in soddened ground for 

 lengthened periods. Whenever the soil is heavy and retentive, ample 

 provision should be made for quickly carrying away any excess of water. 

 The common practice of simply digging holes for fruit trees, and leaving 

 the other portion of the ground, cannot be too strongly condemned, and 

 it is the cause of many failures, These holes after heavy rains simply 

 become so many basins of water, and trees growing in them must 

 necessarily suffer. In very light soils, or where the subsoils are either 

 open gravel, sand or lime-stone, there is often sufficient natural drainage, 

 and therefore no occasion to provide for it. But in stiff, retentive land, 

 artificial drainage should always be provided for as far as is necessary. 

 Deeply-worked and well-drained soils hold moisture during periods of 

 drought longer than shallow or wet land ; and, in the winter, through 

 an excess of water being avoided, the temperature is several degrees 

 higher. Then, again, owing to the more perfect aeration of the ground, 

 the plant food that it contains is more readily soluble and available for 

 the trees. The foregoing remarks are applicable to other fruit trees 

 than the Apple, and will not be repeated at length in the following 

 articles. 



SELECTING TREES AND PLANTING. 



In selecting young trees, give a preference to those that have strong 

 clean stems, and are worked upon suitable stocks. Care should be taken 

 not to expose the roots to a drying atmosphere, as is too often done 

 thoughtlessly. For free-growing trees worked upon ordinary stocks the 

 distance apart should not be less than 24 feet, and even 27 or 30 feet 

 will be better. Under ordinary favourable conditions these trees will 

 attain a good age, and must have room for their development. In 

 Europe and America many instances are known of an Apple tree 

 attaining an age of over 100 years. Care must be taken not to plant 

 too deeply, a very common mistake that is the cause of many failures. 

 It is sufficient to place the trees so that the crowns, or upper roots, are 

 merely below the surface. Before the trees are put in the ground all 

 broken or bruised roots should be removed, as when allowed to remain 

 they are of no service to the plants, but are liable to become cankered 

 and cause serious injury. Planting may be done at any time between 

 the fall of the leaf and the spring, and some difference of opinion exists 

 as to the advantages of early planting or otherwise. According to the 

 observations of the writer, the most favourable time is in the latter part 

 of the winter a week or two before active growth commences. For 

 small gardens, where it is necessary to economise space and a large 

 number of varieties are required, it may be an advantage to grow dwarf 



