FRUIT-TREES. 



197 



FRUIT-TREES. 



does best in a loamy soil of moderate 

 quality, slightly gravelly. 



Preparation of Stations. In preparing 

 stations, therefore, suitable soils should be 

 supplied to each. The station is prepared 

 by digging out a pit about 3 feet square, 

 and the same in depth, in ground that has 

 been well drained. In the bottom of thi 

 pit lay 10 or 12 inches of brick or lime 

 rubbish, the roughest material at the bot 

 torn, and ram it pretty firmly, so as to be 

 impervious to the tap-root ; the remainder 

 of the pit must be filled in with earth suit 

 able to the requirements of the tree. When 

 the surrounding soil is a tenacious clay, the 

 roots of the young tree should be spread 

 out just under the surface, and rich light 

 mould placed over them, forming a little 

 mound round the roots ; but in no case 

 should the crown be more than covered : 

 deep planting is the bane of fruit-trees. 



Preparation of Trees for Planting. The 

 stations being prepared, and the trees having 

 arrived, it is necessary to prune the roots, 

 by taking off all the small fibres, and 

 shortening the larger roots to about six 

 inches from the stem ; and if any portion 

 of the roots has received any bruise, or 

 been broken before the trees have reached 

 their destination, that part of the root 

 should be removed entirely, by a clean, 

 sharp cut. Two or three spurs are suffi- 

 cient, but if there be more good ones, they 

 may remain, after being carefully pruned. 

 The rapidity of railway conveyance will 

 prevent injury to the trees, especially if 

 they are carefully packed in mould and 

 matted ; but it may be a proper precaution 

 against carelessness at the nursery if the 

 roots are laid in milk-and-water or soap- 

 suds a few hours before they are planted. 



Process of Planting. The process of 

 planting will differ, according as it is in- 

 tended to be a dwarf, a standard, a pyra- 

 mid, or a wall tree. If for a dwarf, 

 standard, or espalier, after cutting away 



the tap-root, except in the case of the 

 peach, which, having a tendency to throw 

 up suckers, should have the roots directed 

 downwards, place it upright in the centre 

 of the station ; spread the roots carefully 

 in a horizontal direction, and cover them 

 with prepared mould to the required height, 

 supporting the young plant with a strong 

 stake, driven firmly into the ground, and 

 tying the stem to it, after surrounding the 

 stem with hay or straw, or even a wrapping 

 of old felt carpet, so that the string may 

 not bruise the young tree or cut into the 

 bark, pressing the soil gently, but firmly, 

 over the extended roots. When the opera- 



MODE OF PLACING TREE IN POSITION AGAINST 

 WALL, 



tion of planting is finished, cover the ground 

 all round the tree with a layer of half- 

 rotten dung. This process, called mulch- 

 ing, consists in spreading a layer of short 

 half-rotten dung 5 or 6 inches thick 

 round the stem, in a radius 6 inches be- 

 yond the extremity of the roots. The 

 mulch should be spread evenly with the 

 "ork, and gently pressed down by the back 

 of the spade, or, if exposed to wind, pegged 

 down to prevent its being blown away If 

 a wall tree, let the root be as far fror- the 

 wall as may conveniently be, with the stem 

 loping to it, the roots being extended and 

 covered in the same manner with the soil, 



