320 THE NEW GARDENING 



be an hour's delay. They must not be expensive or 

 cumbrous, for if they were his profits would disappear. 



A cheap commercial " fireplace " for what is called 

 " smudge-firing " is procurable in the form of the Colo- 

 rado heater. The stoves should be set at equal distances 

 apart among the trees to the number of about fifty per 

 acre. When frost threatens they should be filled with 

 cotton waste, which, when ignited, throws up a thick 

 smoke or smudge that effectually checks radiation. 



There is one direction in which modern science runs 

 counter to practical experience at all .events to ex- 

 perience gained in some districts and that is in puddling 

 and ramming the soil round the roots when planting. 

 The scientist's contention is that the more closely the 

 soil can be brought into contact with the roots the more 

 freely do these produce feeding fibres. By moistening 

 the soil and using the rammer the soil is firmly com- 

 pacted round the roots. But is fresh rooting thereby 

 encouraged ? And do stronger and more fruitful trees 

 follow ? An affirmative answer cannot be given in all 

 cases. It is found that when planting fruit trees on stiff 

 heavy clay soils puddling and ramming are not ad- 

 vantageous, probably because they tend to seal the soil 

 and check aeration. The trees do best, indeed, when 

 the soil is but lightly firmed around them. The rammer 

 and water-bucket may be brought into play on light, 

 loose soils. 



Science has also suggested that deep planting in narrow 

 holes is better than shallow planting in wide holes, be- 

 cause the root restriction consequent on the operation 

 has the effect of forcing the emission of fibres. Let us 

 suppose a case. The tree to be planted has a few strongish 

 fang roots and some fibres, but not a great many, because 

 some have been destroyed in the shifting. We make a 



