BEST SEASON FOR PURCHASE. 291 



§111. TRANSPLANTATION. 



When the trees arrive at the orchard they should 

 be carefully unpacked, and the moss or other ma- 

 terial about the roots removed, as otherwise it may 

 promote decay. A deep trench should be dug, in 

 dry, gravelly soil, and the roots set in properly to 

 a considerable depth, that they may remain fresh. 

 If, from any accident, the top has become shrivelled, 

 the trees should be buried root and branch until 

 they become plump. 



The best time for the purchase of trees, even if 

 not to be planted until spring, is undoubtedly the 

 autumn. Between the sale in the fall and that in 

 the spring, there is no season of growth, and those 

 disposed of at the latter time have been left over 

 from the former. Therefore the order should be 

 given as early as possible in the summer previous, 

 if the cultivator designs that the nurseryman shall 

 make a wise selection. If these trees are to be 

 heeled in until the spring planting, the earth should 

 be finely shaken about the roots, that no recesses 

 be left for retaining the water or sheltering mice. 

 After the earth has been banked up about them to 

 a considerable height, it should be stamped hard. 

 The trench must be, of course, where no water will 

 stand about the trees, and not in the vicinity of 

 heaps of weeds, old turf, or any other rubbish from 

 which the mice can make a sally. 



