246 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



they may become a nesting -place for mice, which 

 may girdle the trees when there are heavy snows. 

 There are those who favor placing a forkful of ma- 

 nure in the bottom of the hole, but this is a 

 practice of doubtful value ; and, at all events, the 

 manure should be well mixed with the soil to pre- 

 vent drying out. There is often discussion as to 

 whether it is desirable to place the mulch on the 

 surface or to place it an inch or two below the 

 surface and cover it with soil. No dogmatic as- 

 sertion can be made for either method, although, 

 of the two, the former is probably more generally 

 advisable. But it should be remembered that a 

 mulch of tilled earth (as explained in Chapter III.) 

 is more desirable than one of straw or manure in 

 general fruit -planting. 



Puddling the roots is a good practice when trees 

 are to be shipped any distance or when they are 

 likely to be unduly exposed, and it is a common 

 practice amongst nurserymen. The operation con- 

 sists in sousing the roots in a thin mud or paste 

 of clay. 



Trimming the trees.* There is much difference of 

 opinion as to the best method of trimming trees 

 when they are set. So far as the root is concerned, 

 it is advisable, in the north, to cut away only those 

 roots which are broken or badly torn. These should 

 be cut off just back of the injury. It is the custom 



"Complete discussions of pruning and training, with a full analysis of th* 

 Stringfellow or stub-root method, may be found in "The Pruning-Book." 



