146 THE NURSERY. 



formed two or three tiers of lateral branches, two feet, or 

 two and a half, is little enough. Indeed, when pyramids 

 remain for three years, there should be a clear space 

 three feet on all sides. The usual nursery practice is, 

 rows three and a half feet apart ; trees in rows, one to 

 one and a half feet apart. 



Dwarf standards require less space than full stand- 

 ards, and dwarf bushes still less. The stocks intended 

 for these different classes of trees should be planted sepa- 

 rately. In sorting the stocks, at the time of dressing, the 

 larger should be used for full standards, and the smaller 

 for low or dwarf standards. 



8th. Mode of Planting. The square or plot of ground 

 for each class of stocks being ready, a line is stretched 

 along one side, and a trench opened with the spade, deep 

 and wide enough to hold the roots ; the plant is then held 

 against the side of the trench, next the line, by one man, 

 whilst the earth is filled in by another ; when about half 

 the earth is in, it is trodden down pretty firmly by the 

 foot, and the remainder filled in. As buds are usually 

 inserted on the north side of the stocks, they should in- 

 cline, if at all, slightly to the south. Good pulverized 

 surface soil should always be put upon the roots, to induce 

 the immediate formation of young fibres. During the 

 planting, the roots must be carefully guarded from ex- 

 posure. A few only should be taken out of the ground 

 at a time. When there are but few fibrous roots, pud- 

 dling in thin mud is useful, otherwise not. Some nursery- 

 men open the trenches with a plow instead of the spade ; 

 and some plant all kinds of stock with the dibble. We 

 do not practise either. 



Planting Hoot Grafts. The quickest mode of plant- 

 ing small root grafts is to stretch a line along the ground 

 to be planted, and, with a dibble, make the holes, and 

 press the earth in around the plants. This dibble should 

 be twelve to eighteen inches long, about two inches in 



