256 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



those who have knowledge of the country generally, are of 

 much usefulness. The foregoing applies to fruit trees 

 especially, and the merits and defects of each family of 

 which, for marketing in the fresh state or for preserving, 

 are generally well known. 



Seedling Trees. >eeds sown in boxes are more easily 

 seen to, and can b^ watered and shaded more effectively, 

 and then when a suitable day can be chosen for transplanting, 

 few losses need occur. Seeds of trees that make a tap root 

 that is not wanted are very often best sown in seed boxes, 

 and then transplanted in nursery rows when fit. The 

 question of leaving the tap root on trees depends a good 

 deal on the soil and how they are worked. Trees the roots of 

 which feed near the surface, such as oranges, may be better 

 without the tap, but trees of the citrus family on deep, 

 well-drained soil, with the tap root are longer lived and make 

 more upright growth. Where unhealthy and wet subsoil 

 underlies the ground where trees are growing, the taproot 

 may get down into such soil, and when wet spells occur, 

 suffer badly, and the trees look unhealthy and die off but 

 too frequently. Where the under-drainage is good and the 

 subsoil porous and healthy, a taproot should be an 

 advantage to a tree, especially in the dry seasons. Oranges, 

 and lemons, last longer and give better results, provided 

 the drainage is right, when the seed is planted where the 

 tree is to be grown. Indeed, in suitable soil, deep and well 

 drained, experience says that many trees would do much 

 better if sown where they are to remain, either to bear fruit 

 or to be grafted or budded. They would take longer to bear, 

 but live longer ; still, we must be guided by circumstances to 

 make the best use of the soil and the position we work in. 



Measuring Off for Trees. The implements required 

 for laying out land for orchard trees are a surveyor chain 

 or a length of fencing wire about 7 chains long with an 

 iron ring at each end does very well ; half a dozen hard- 

 wood stakes well pointed ; a batten of the length the trees 

 are to be apart, with a notch for the side distances when 

 used for triangle planting ; and a few hundred pegs about 

 six inches long. We will presume that the land is not fenced 

 all round, and that it will be necessary to mark and peg 



