THE BEAR-QUICK APPLE 321 



deep narrow hole and put the tree in. If the fangs will 

 not lie flat we curve them. We throw some wet soil 

 among the coiled roots and bring the rammer into play. 

 It follows that the fangs are bruised. Where they are 

 torn fibrous roots are to be expected, and the more of 

 these that are produced the better the trees are to thrive. 



It is of course true that abundance of fibrous roots 

 are good for a fruit tree. It is equally true that laceration 

 of the large fang roots may be followed in some cases by 

 the production of fibres. But there is a better way of 

 getting feeders than by bruising, and it is to cut every 

 broken root cleanly and press fertile soil round it. Bruising 

 is dangerous, especially in damp, stiff soil. Planting in 

 deep, narrow holes is not safe in such land, because 

 every hole may become a water-trap in a wet winter, 

 unless the ground is drained. A healthy fruit tree with 

 cleanly trimmed roots that is planted in fertile soil in the 

 fall may be expected to establish itself quickly, produce 

 abundance of fibres, grow well and bear good crops. 

 No violence is called for. The result aimed at may be 

 gained by temperate methods. Still, we get back to the 

 soil-equation. What is bad in one district may be good 

 in another. In a light, friable soil that has natural 

 drainage deeper and firmer planting is desirable than in 

 heavy, stiff ground where the site does not facilitate the 

 outflow of water. Root-curbing, puddling, deep planting, 

 and ramming are justified if they give greater stability 

 and more abundant roots to trees in loose soils. 



