102 OF PLANTING. SECT. VIII- 



planted so. The roots of fruit-trees are often not 

 only mangled, and too few, but are also put into the 

 ground without any dressing or case. 



The less roots are exposed to the air the better, and 

 the sooner trees are planted after being taken up, the 

 more likely they are to succeed well. Trees pror 

 perly packed (i. e. the roots well covered) may live 

 out of ground ten days or a fortnight, in autumn, or 

 Dearly in the spring ; but nothing except necessity 

 will justify the keeping a tree out of ground a day 

 longer than can be helped, for the fine roots dry oft* 

 apace. 



If it be determined for any length of time before 

 hand, when and where to plant, the opening the 

 ground, and exposing the holes to the sun and air, 

 (and if it may be to frost also) will both correct 

 crudities in the soil, and enrich it from the va- 

 rious stores of the atmosphere ; this opening should 

 be as wide and deep as convenient, that the benefits 

 of the air may be extended. 



Some people do the work of planting very idly, as 

 if it were sufficient to see that a tree has, a root, and 

 that it was only neces.sary to hide, it in the ground. 

 Every one who plants trees should stand by himself, 

 or have some trusty person tp see the work done, or 

 the necessary labour may not be bestowed. It is 

 frequently the way (for instance) to dig a hole no 

 bigger than will just receive the roots of a tree 

 twisted and forced in ; but beiqg thus cramped, and 

 the vessels of their roots distorted and broke, it can- 

 not be expected that such mmatural treatment 

 should answer. 



But the above violence is not all ; the roots are 

 ponfined as in a prison, (in a tub or a bason) which, 

 if the soil is strong, detains wet, and chills and can- 

 kers, if not rots the fibres. To plant well, the roots 

 pf a tree shouk} have liberty to strike out freely 



