GENERAL PRACTICE. PLANTING. 1 47 



may shape them according to his wishes, or if he be a learner, by following the directions 

 that will be given for his guidance. 



Care must also be taken not to allow any needless delay in removing bundles of trees 

 from railway stations. These are dry and draughty, and soon take life out of rootlets. 

 On the arrival of consignments, lay in the trees at once, even if they are to be planted 

 almost immediately. Take out a wide trench in light, moist, well-drained soil, then 

 remove the packing and place the trees in singly side by side, laying the tops all one 

 way, and cover the roots with loose soil, making sure that it fills up the interstices. 

 Placing large lumps over the roots is of little use. If the work is well done the trees 

 will remain in good condition for a considerable time, or until the ground is in the best 

 order for planting. If the roots are dry on arrival, well drench them before laying 

 them in. Above all things look carefully to the labels. These must be made secure 

 well above the soil, and the names clear and indelible. Those on the labels sent with 

 the trees may soon become obliterated. Losing the names of fruit trees is a serious 

 matter, and almost invariably the result of neglect. Always affix permanent labels 

 on trees before the temporary ones are removed; then if the varieties are misnamed, 

 the fault can be traced to the nurseryman, not otherwise. 



If trees come to hand when the ground is frozen so as to prevent planting or laying 

 the roots in a trench dug in the ground, they should be kept in their packages as received, 

 in a shed or other cool place not influenced by sun or artificial warmth. If covered 

 with dry straw or bracken during severe frost, they will sustain no material injury for 

 weeks. If on unpacking there is any shrinkage of the bark, freshness can be restored 

 by immersion in water for a few hours. This, however, is only necessary in special 

 cases in spring, when the roots are in a very dry state. It is much the best to have as 

 little as possible to do with trees in frosty weather, particularly in planting. 



Time of Planting. October and November, according to weather influences, are the 

 best months in which to plant fruit trees. The ground is then comparatively warm. 

 Early planting has many advantages, the chief being the emission of fresh roots before 

 winter. If the roots which are severed are pared smooth they proceed to heal and form 

 a callus from which rootlets are emitted ; this is accelerated by the activity of the sap, 

 elaboration always taking place more or less by the bark, especially the younger portions. 

 Moving the trees whilst they have some leaves unshed can only be practised in home 

 growth. Those had from a distance, lifted with many green leaves, will have them 

 shrivelled if the roots are kept long out of the ground, the wood following suit. There 



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