LAYING-IN. 47 



is followed by a long season of rest, and feeble growth, while 

 the plantation of young trees is making wood rapidly, and soon 

 comes into a healthy and long-continued state of productive- 

 ness often long indeed before the large trees have fairly arrived 

 at that condition. The small tree, transplanted with its system 

 of roots and branches entire, suffers little or no check ; the older 

 and larger tree, losing part of its roots, requires several years 

 to resume its former vigour. The constitution of the small tree 

 is healthy and unimpaired ; that of the large is frequently much 

 enfeebled. A stout and vigorous habit what the nurserymen 

 call a good stocky plant is the true criterion of merit in select- 

 ing fruit trees for transplanting. 



Trees intended for orchards, being often more exposed than 

 those in gardens, should be somewhat larger not less than six, 

 or more than eight feet is the best size. For gardens, all expe- 

 rienced cultivators agree that a smaller size is preferable ; we 

 prefer plants two years old from the graft. Most gardeners 

 abroad, when they select trees with more than usual care, take 

 what are called maiden plants those one year old from the 

 graft, and there can be no doubt that, taking into account health, 

 duration, and the ease with which such a tree can be made to 

 grow into any form, this is truly the preferable size for removal 

 into a fruit garden. But we are an impatient people, and it is 

 not till another after century of trial and experience in the cul- 

 ture of fruit trees, that cultivators generally in this country will 

 become aware of the truth of this fact. 



The facility with which the different fruit trees may be trans- 

 planted differs considerably. Plums are generally removed with 

 most success and after them nearly in the order as follows : 

 Quinces, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and 

 Cherries ; the latter succeeding with some difficulty when of 

 large size. 



Laying-in ty the heels is a practice adopted as a temporary kind 

 of planting, when a larger quantity of trees is at hand than can be 

 set out immediately. A trench is opened, and the roots are laid 

 in and covered with soil, the tops being previously placed in a slo- 

 ping position, inclining to within a few feet of the surface. In this 

 way they are kept fresh and in good order, until it is convenient 

 to plant them finally. In northern districts, where the autumn 

 is often too severe for planting, and the spring is frequently too 

 late to receive trees in time from nurseries farther south, it is a 

 common and successful mode to procure trees in autumn and 

 lay them in by the heels until spring, covering over the tops of 

 the more tender sorts if necessary with coarse litter. 



In planting an orchard, always avoid placing the trees in the 

 same spot or near where an old tree stood before. Experience 

 has taught us that the growth of a young tree, in such a posi- 

 tion, is weak and feeble ; the nourishment suitable to that kind 



