FRUIT-TREES. 



198 



FRUIT-TREES. 



The way in which this should be done is 

 shown in the accompanying illustration. 

 The object is to give the roots as much 

 room as possible in which to ramify. 



Modifications in Planting. The nature 

 of the soil is to be regarded, and the tree 

 planted at a greater or smaller elevation 

 above the level of the surrounding soil, 

 according to its nature. Where the sub- 

 soil is a stiff clay, the mound in which 

 it is planted should rise from 9 to 12 

 inches ; in a warm dry soil, a very gentle 

 elevation suffices. The roots should be 

 planted in the richest mould ; and various 

 expedients, to which reference will be made 

 presently, should be used to keep them 

 moist and cool, and free from canker. The 

 mould requires to be pressed gently and 

 closely round the roots with the hand, so 

 that the soil may be closely packed round 

 them ; with these precautions, no fear need 

 be entertained of productive fruit-trees 

 being obtained. 



Precautions after Planting. And now, 

 the trees being planted, the wall trees 

 nailed to the wall to prevent them being 

 shaken by the winds, the standard and 

 dwarf trees firmly attached to a strong 

 stake for the same purpose, let us consider 

 the various expedients which have been 

 adapted from time to time to protect the 

 roots of the young trees from the frosts of 

 winter and the scorrbing heats of summer. 

 For this purpose, layers of straw or of 

 ferns, 5 or 6 inches thick, laid in circles 

 3 feet round the stem, have been re- 

 commended, and the nurseryman should 

 have very special directions to have them 

 carefully taken up, with every root and 

 fibre as entire as possible, and to pack 

 them carefully in damp moss, or any other 

 material that will retain moisture, the stems 

 and branches being well tied in, and 

 wrapped up in straw inside and mats out- 

 side. On their arrival, if the weather 

 Continues open, they are to be carefully 



unpacked and " laid in by the heels," as 

 gardeners term the operation of laying 

 them in a temporary trench. Lawrence, 

 one of our oldest and best writers on fruit- 

 trees, very much approves of the ferns 

 and mulching during violent frosts ; but 

 the straw and dung, he thinks, encourage 

 worms, ants, and other vermin very in- 

 jurious to the young roots ; therefore he 

 adopted, as equally effective, more sightly, 

 and free from that objection, the plan of 

 placing a layer of sand in a circle round 

 the tree, covering the sand with small 

 round stones, which is neat and attractive 

 to the eye, and equally effective in protect- 

 ing the roots, keeping them, at the same 

 time, cool, and admitting of the necessary 

 percolation of moisture. 



Fruit-Trees, Protection for. Set 



Copings for Walls, &c. 



Pruit-Trees, Selection of. 



In selecting trees for planting, it is 

 important to note their different seasons 

 for ripening, and to select the sorts, so that 

 a continuous supply may follow. There 

 are some kinds of fruit which must be con- 

 sumed when ripe, or preserved in sugar or 

 otherwise, which altogether changes their 

 character. Besides, only a moderate supply 

 of apples and pears need be provided in 

 summer or early autumn, when peaches 

 are in season. Nevertheless, it would be 

 a great mistake to overlook summer apples 

 and pears altogether : many of them are 

 of excellent quality, and form an agreeable 

 addition to the dessert, as well as for 

 kitchen use, even in houses well supplied 

 with peaches, nectarines, and apricots. 

 In arranging the quarters of the fruit 

 garden, therefore, leaving the walls for the 

 more tender peach, nectarine, apricot, and 

 more delicate French pears, the espaliers, 

 dwarf trees, and pyramids should be ar- 

 ranged so that out of every hundred trees, 



