192 PERMANENT PLANTATIONS. 



for instance, if too compact, sand, leaf mould, muck, etc., 

 may be added, to render it more porous ; and if too light, 

 clay, stiff loam, ashes, etc., may be added, to make it more 

 retentive. The proper way to furnish these materials is 

 to dig large holes, and put a good bed, twelve to eighteen 

 inches deep, of the compost in the bottom under the trees. 

 Lime should form a part of all composts, and especially 

 for the apple and pear ; half a peck may be mixed with 

 the bed of each tree in soil not naturally calcareous. In 

 digging the holes, the good surface soil should be laid on 

 one side, so that it can be used to fill in among the roots, 

 and for this purpose it should be as finely pulverized as 

 possible. In a soil adapted to fruit culture, if in a good 

 state of fertility, there is no necessity for either large 

 holes or compost. Our mode of planting is simply to 

 prepare the land by a thorough plowing, and then dig the 

 holes just deep and wide enough to admit the roots, using 

 neither manure nor compost. 



When the compost has been laid in the bottom of the 

 hole, and a layer of fine surface soil spread over it, so as 

 to be highest in the center, the tree is set on it, so that 

 when the planting is finished, the collar will be about two 

 inches below the surface. In the case of trees on dwarf 

 stocks, such as pears on quince, all the stock must be under 

 the ground. The roots must be carefully adjusted, so that 

 each one is spread out in its natural position ; the fine 

 earth is then filled in amongst them, so that no vacancies 

 will be left ; the upper roots should be held back by the 

 person who holds the tree until the lower ones are covered. 

 When the filling-in is half done, it mny be gently trodden 

 down with the foot, so as to give the tree a firmer hold 

 of the ground ; and when the filling-in of earth on the 

 roots is finished, tread down firmly. In advanced spring 

 planting, a pail of water might be given to each tree 

 when the earth is partly filled in ; at other times it is un- 

 necessary, if not injurious. 



