THE FRUIT-OARDEN. 293 



or two, of greater depth may be allowed when 

 planting out, than when the trees are standing in 

 the nursery ; but many farmers give them a foot or 

 more of earth over what they formerly had ; and this 

 deep setting, by the exclusion of air from an impor- 

 tant part of the trunk, produces a bad effect on the 

 whole tree. In setting trees, finely-pulverized earth 

 onl)' should come in contact with the roots ; and the 

 trees should be shaken, to fix the particles as evenly 

 and closely around the whole as is practicable. 

 When the holes are filled, the earth should be well 

 trodden down ; and, if it is very dry, frequently moist- 

 ening it wdl have a good effect in promoting vegeta- 

 tion. In no point, perhaps, is error more frequently 

 seen in the transplanting of trees than in the size of 

 the holes into which they are put. This is almost 

 uniforml)- too small. The roots, instead of having 

 room to expand or grow in their natural position, 

 are bent, trodden, and forced into the narrow space 

 dug for them ; and not unfrequently, where the sub- 

 soil is hard, before they have reached any distance 

 in searching for food, tliey find their progress as ef- 

 fectually intercepted as by a wall of rocks ; and, in 

 addition to this, the hole, in such impervious earth, 

 serves as a receptacle for stagnant water, souring 

 and vitiating the juices of the tree, and destroying 

 its health and fruitfulness. 



Fruit-trees, when transplanted, are frequently left 

 to take care of themselves ; the turf fixes around 

 tliem, the earth becomes compact and hard, the ma- 

 nure originally added to the soil becomes exhausted, 

 and, as a natural consequence, the vigour of the tree 

 is lost, while the parasitical mosses and fungi seize 

 upon it and claim it for tlieir own. Mr. Prince di- 

 rects that the turf should be removed from fruit- 

 trees to the distance of a few feet around them, and 

 the earth kept mellow and rich ; that the bodies of 

 the trees, to promote tlieir growth, should be washed 

 every year, or brustied over with common soft soap 



