SECT. virr. OF PLANTING. 101 



Having some confidence that the sort is right and 

 good, the plants must be seen to, that they ar 

 healthy ; they should appear sound as to any exter- 

 nal injury. If tiiey are of a squat, weak, bushy 

 growth, there can be little expectation of their be- 

 coming good plants ; though it may sometimes hap- 

 pen that a tree of poor promise will rally and be- 

 come fruitful. 



Trees grafted on old stunted stocks, or that have 

 often been removed, or frequently cut down, seldom 

 grow off well in any soil, and should be rejected. 

 Let those that are purchased be seen to, as nursery- 

 men often have such trees, having remained long on 

 hand. 



Good. young trees have a smooth, bright, and 

 strait appearance, and are evidently of a free growth ; 

 though the most luxuriant are not to be preferred, 

 for their wood is raw, and wants that firmness which 

 is necessary to fruitfulness ; they may get off this 

 crude state in time, but the moderately free-growers 

 are best, causing less trouble and fruiting sooner. 



Old fruit trees may sometimes succeed with good 

 management, but they are liable to stunt, and dwin- 

 dle off; wherefas young ones establish their roots 

 quickly, and grow off apace; so that young trees 

 planted at the same time with old ones, generally 

 overtake them in a few years, and become greatly 

 superior. 



To have moderate shooting trees for the wall; or 

 espalier, chuse such whose twigs are rather slender, 

 provided they are healthy : they will not only be kept 

 easier within compass, but in general prove more 

 fruitful. 



2. The ACT of planting. Trees taken up for 

 planting should be dug carefully, with (as much as 

 possible) their full roots. Many a good tree has 

 failed merely by being taken up badly, and then 



