PLANTING TREES. 



374 



PLANTING TREES. 



as to heighten the peculiar characteristics 

 of each. Even in the massing of any kind 

 of tree alone, as, for example, pines, there 

 is scope for considerable judgment and the 

 exercise of great taste ; and their relation 

 to other species of deciduous trees may 

 very much make or mar the beauty of all 

 concerned. 



Planting Trees. 



Proper Season. The time for planting 

 may be in any month from October to Feb- 

 ruary inclusive, but many arguments may be 

 brought forward in favour of the month of 

 November, if the weather be open and free 

 from frosts. Spring is always a busy sea- 

 son in the garden ; digging, sowing, graft- 

 ing, and pruning are then in full operation. 

 " And why should planting be added to 

 the number ? " asks the Rev. Mr. Law- 

 rence. " It makes part of the wise man's 

 pleasure and diversion to have always some- 

 thing to do, and never too much. Amuse- 

 ments and recreations of all kinds should 

 come to us in regular and orderly succes- 

 sion, and not in a crowd ; besides, some 

 intervals of time for meditation between 

 different kinds of work in a garden are 

 very desirable to a good and thoughtful 

 man." 



Suitable Soils. The pear loves a silicious 

 earth, of considerable depth ; plums flourish 

 in calcareous soils, and the roots seek the 

 surface ; the cherry prefers a light silicious 

 soil ; and all cease to be productive in 

 moist, humid soils. The apple accommo- 

 dates itself more to clayey soils, 'but does 

 best in a loamy soil of moderate quality, 

 slightly gravelly. In preparing stations, 

 therefore, suitable soils should be supplied 

 to each. 



Preparation of Stations. The station is 

 prepared by digging out a pit about 3 feet 

 square, and the same depth, in ground that 

 has been well drained. In the bottom of this 

 oit lay I O or 1 2 inches of brick or lime rubbish , 



the roughest material at the bottom, and 

 ram it pretty firmly, so as to be impervious 

 to the tap-root ; the remainder of the pit is 

 filled in with earth suitable to the require 

 ments 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. 



Treatment of Trees. The stations being 

 prepared, the trees require attention. It is 

 necessary to prune the roots, by taking ofl 

 all the small fibres, and shortening the 

 larger roots to about 6 inches from the 

 stem ; if there be any bruise, the root in 

 which it occurs should be removed entirely 

 by a clean, sharp cut. Two or three spurs 

 are sufficient ; but if there be more good 

 ones, they may remain, after careful prun- 

 ing. The roots may be laid in milk-and- 

 water or soapsuds a few hours before the 

 trees are planted. 



Process of Planting. The process of 

 planting will differ, according as the trees 

 are intended to be dwarf, standard, pyra- 

 mid, or wall- trees. With dwarf, standard, 

 or espalier, place the tree upright in the 

 centre of the sta;ion ; spread the roots care- 

 fully 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 with hay, or some- 

 thing that will not bruise; press the soil 

 gently, but firmly, over the extended roots, 

 having first cut away the tap-root. Then 

 mulch the place. This process, called 

 mulching, consists in spreading a layer of 

 short, half-rotten dung 5 or 6 inches thick 

 round the stem, in a radius 6 inches beyond 

 the extremity of the roots ; the mulch spread 

 evenly with the fork, and gently pressed 

 down by the back of the spade, or, if ex- 



