188 AMERICAN GARDENER. 



as wide, and six inches deeper, than the roots 

 actually need as mere room. And now, besides 

 the fine earth generally, have some good mould 

 sifted. Lay some of this six inches deep at the 

 bottom of the hole. Place the roots upon this in 

 their natural order, and hold the tree perfectly 

 upright, while you put more sifted earth on the 

 roots. Sway the tree backward and forward a 

 little, and give it a gentle lift and shake, so that 

 the fine earth may find its way amongst the roots 

 and leave not the smallest cavity. Every root 

 should be closely touched by the earth in every 

 part. When you have covered all the roots with 

 the sifted earth, and have seen that your tree 

 stands just as high with regard to the level of the 

 ground as it did in the place where it before stood, 

 allowing about 3 inches for sinking, fill up the 

 rest of the hole with the common earth of the 

 plat, and when you have about half filled it, tread 

 the earth that you put in, but not very hard. 

 Put on the rest of the earth, and leave the surface 

 perfectly smooth. Do not 'water by any means. 

 Water, poured on, in this case, sinks rapidly down, 

 and makes cavities amongst the roots. Lets in 

 air. Mould and canker follow ; and great injury 

 iS done. 



286. If the tree be planted in the fall, as soon 

 as the leaf begins to be yellow ; that is to say, in 

 October earlf , it will have struck out new roots 

 to the length of some inches before the winter 

 sets in. And this is certainly the best time for 

 doing the business. But, mind, the roots should 

 be out of ground as short a time as possible ; and 

 should by no means be permitted to get dry, if 

 you can avoid it; for, though some trees will live 



