241 



liaiullcis, 111 tiucli a maiinci, a.s thai neither tile mould can 

 (lisphice the minutest fibres, nor exceed the thickness of a 

 proper stratum. After which, they go through the same 

 process witii the next tier, and so on with the others, till 

 they exhaust the parcel of roots, with which they began. 



It sometimes happens, that masses of roots occur, not far 

 from the collar, branching out into small and numerous 

 stems of no great length, which it is much more troublesome 

 to deal with. With these the only way is, to divide them 

 into tiers, and work them in the vertical, instead of the 

 horizontal position. A quantity of the finest and most fria- 

 ble mould must be shaken in among the shortest, and least 

 extricable fibres of these masses, so that the whole may 

 have an opportunity of absorbing nourishment from the 

 soil. If the pit be upon uneven ground, and still more, if 

 on a steep bank, as sometimes happens, it presents consider- 

 able difficulty to inexperienced planters. In this case, 

 especial care must be had to lay the roots in a direction corre- 

 spondmg to the slope, level in no part, but rising from the 

 centre on the one side, and falling from it on the other. 

 Hence, when the last tier on each side is finished, it has from 

 six to eight inches of cover over it, at the general level of 

 the ground. This, on the side of a hill of any steepness, it 

 requires considerable skill to accompUsh, so that the main 

 body of the roots be brought within an equal distance from 

 the surface, and receive proper benefit from the sun and air. 

 In the manner just now attempted to be described, the 

 workmen, three and three together, in divisions or parties, 

 proceed round the tree, treating one parcel of roots after 

 another in the same style in succession, and as soon as they 

 meet, the work of distribution is completed. 



At this stage pf the process, it cannot have escaped the 

 discerning reader, that contrary to the general practice, no 

 decalcation or consolidating of the earth has as yet been 

 directed, except in the execution of the retaining-bank round 



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