70 



crable time, but its success is perhaps more 

 certain than that of any other mode. 



The best compost-manure for trees', where 

 the soil is poor, is a mixture of two parts of 

 muck or peat-earth with one part of barn-yard 

 manure, adding, if convenient, a small quan- 

 tity of wood-ashes or pulverised charceal. If 

 these have been mixed some months, or even 

 a year or two previously to being used, the 

 composition will be all the better. Never put 

 raw manure in contact with the roots. 



4th. ' After-treatment. When the tree is 

 transplanted in the fall or winter, it is ex- 

 tremely advantageous to place a conical 

 mound, consisting of from five to ten bushels 

 of soil or compost-manure, close around the 

 tree to save it from being disturbed by the ac- 

 tion of the frost. This mound should be re- 

 moved in the spring. It is generally best to 

 put a stake down, to which the tree may be 

 tied, for the first season after being set. This 

 ought to be done before filling up the hole, in 

 order not to bruise the roots. Large cobble 

 stones laid close to a tree, answer quite as 

 good a purpose. [See Chapter VII] 



