72 TRANSPLANTING. 



of at least half the head. A badly mutilated root may be 

 saved alive, by a severe lopping of the shoots ; but it can- 

 not possibly succeed so well as a tree with a fine large mass 

 of uninjured fibres. 



Trees which quickly reproduce new shoots, as the 

 peach, may be more closely shortened back than others 

 having a less reproductive power, as the apple. The cherry 

 throws out a new growth still more reluctantly, and hence 

 more care is needed in digging up the roots entire. 



A very mistaken notion prevails with many who purchase 

 trees for orchards, that the most important requisite is to 

 obtain large straight stems and handsome heads, while the 

 condition of the roots is regarded as entirely subordinate. 

 It is far preferable that the limbs be mutilated than the 

 roots ; for though the tree may have a bad appearance when 

 first transplanted, well preserved roots will soon restore the 

 loss. 



1 Preparing the ground and manuring. Ground intended 

 for trees must be secure from danger of being flooded in 

 wet seasons, and from all liability of becoming water- 

 soaked beneath the surface. If not naturally dry enough, 

 it must be thoroughly underdrained. 



The next requisite, and it is one of the greatest impor- 

 tance, is to deepen and enrich the soil by trenching. In 

 the garden this is done with the spade ; but in the open 

 orchard, it is cheaply and thoroughly effected, by first 

 loosening the earth to a depth of at least twenty inches 

 with a subsoil plow. Next, to intermix the whole loosened 

 bed of soil thoroughly together, it is trench-plowed. It 

 would be impossible to attain this depth with a common 

 plow, without previous subsoiling ; and subsoiling fails to 

 accomplish a proper admixture without trenching. Manure 

 is to be applied in sufficient quantity to render the whole 

 fertile ; the amount to be graduated by the character of the 

 ground. Trenching or deepening must in no case be 

 omitted; for if the soil is exhausted, if it is poor, if liable 

 to suffer from drouth, it is a remedy which applies in all 

 cases. If this deepening and enriching cultivation can be 

 continued for a year or two, in connexion with root crops, 

 before planting, the ground will be brought to the finest 

 condition. 



