CHAPTER VII. 



FRUITS. 



FRUIT is one of the first considerations of a good farmer, and 

 usually one of the most pleasant and profitable departments of 

 the farm. In a work of this character, no extended details can 

 be expected, but a few hints in that direction will not be out of 

 place. 



Planting. The tree to be planted should be as young as 

 circumstances will allow. The season is just when the leaves 

 become yellow, or as early as possible in the spring. The 

 ground being prepared and the tree taken up, prune the roots 

 with a sharp knife, so as to leave none more than about a foot 

 long ; and if any have been torn off near the stem, prune the 

 part, so that no bruises or ragged parts remain. Cut off all the 

 fibres close to the roots, for they never live, and they mould and 

 do great injury. If cut off, their place is supplied by other fibres 

 more quickly. Dig the hole to plant in three times 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 upon 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 among 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 stood before, allowing about three 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. 



5" 



