194 



APPLE TRF.E. 



hcnp bj itself, and ilie earth from beneath in another. 

 The trees to be planted should be as young- as circum- 

 stances will allow. In taking* them up, the roots should 

 be preserved of the full length, if possible ; the surface 

 earth should be removed, and the running' roots care- 

 fully traced and raised. If they must be cut, let it be 

 done with a sharp instrument. The tap root, may be 

 shorTSned to the leng-th of about one foot, and all brok- 

 en or bruised parts should be removed. The small 

 matted fibres should be cut off, as they are apt to mould 

 and deca}^, and prevent new ones from shooting. This 

 need not be done, however, unless the tree has been 

 out of ground seme time. Lay some of the^ fine mould 

 six inches deep at the bottom of the hole, place the 

 roots upon this, in their natural order, and hold the tree 

 perfectly upright, and the same side to the sun as it 

 .stood before, while more fine rich earth is put round 

 the roots. Sway the tree backward and forvvard a lit- 

 tle, and give it a gentle lift and shake, so that the finG 

 earth may find its way amongst the roots and leave not 

 the smallest cavity. Every root should be closely 

 touched by the earth in every part. When all the 

 roots are covered with this fine earth, and the tree 

 stands about as high with regard to the level of the 

 ground as it did in the place where it before stood, al- 

 lowing about three inches for sinking, fill up the rest of 

 the hole with common earth, and when you have about 

 filled it, tread the earth that you put in, but not very 

 hard. Put on the rest of the earth, and leave the sur- 

 face pcriectly smooth. Trees must not be watered, it 

 sinks rapidly down, makes cavities amongst the roots, 

 and is very injtirioas. But it is useful to place a small 

 quantity of old liay or straw around them, to prevent 

 the sun from taking up too much of the moisture, and 

 to keep the ground from becoming dry and hard. This 

 should be removed before snow falls, lest it harbor 

 mice. Or small stones may be laid on the ground three 

 feet around the tree. During the time of transplant- 

 ing, the roots should be out of ground as short a time as 

 possible ; and should by no means be permitted to get 

 dry, if it can be avoided; for, thoug-h some trees will 

 live after having been a long while out of ground, the 

 •shorter the time out of ground, the sooner the roots 



