OP FRUIT TREES. 51 



trenching should be preferred, the spade must be 

 carried to the full depth of the soil; and if it be 

 gravelly, a considerable portion of this should be 

 removed, and its place supplied by a due quantity 

 of rich mould. The quality of the soil should ap- 

 proach as nearly as possible to that of the nursery, 

 in which the trees were reared. If it be poorer, 

 the trees will certainly be impeded in their growth. 

 The trenches should be well dug, about five or six 

 feet wide, that the holes to receive the roots may 

 be made sufficiently large. Much of the future 

 prosperity of the orchard depends upon a judicious 

 selection of the trees. Mr. Bucknal advises, that 

 they be chosen the year before they are intended 

 to be planted, particular care being taken to obtain 

 young, vigorous and healthy trees ; for cankered 

 plants emit a vapour that is very detrimental to 

 such as are sound. In taking up the trees irom 

 the nursery, the roots should be preserved of the 

 full length, if possible ; the surface earth should 

 be removed, and the running roots carefully traced 

 and raised. If they must be cut, let it be done 

 with a sharp instrument, and not hacked with a 

 dull spade. The tap root, or that which pene- 

 trates straight down, may be shortened to the 

 length of about one foot, and all broken or bruised 

 parts should be removed. The small matted fibres 

 should be cut off, as they are apt to mould and de- 

 cay, and prevent new ones from shooting. The 

 remaining side roots should be spread out to give 

 them a horizontal direction under the surface, that 

 they may be more immediately influenced by the 

 sun, and their sap will become richer, and produce 

 the sweetest and most beautiful fruit. Some well- 

 rotted manure, mixed with mould, may be advan- 

 tageously placed round the roots, the earth care- 

 fully pressed down, so as to come in contact with 

 the roots in every part, and the trees placed the 

 same side to the sun as they stood before. In 



