268 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



through the frost. The effects of frost may be lessened by selecting as 

 sheltered a position as possible, such as is afforded by trees, a hedge, or wall. 

 Not only are such shelters of service in preventing the flowers being killed 

 by frost, but they are also useful in protecting the trees from rough 

 winds. The cold east winds of spring injure the blossoms almost as 

 much as frost, and the rough west winds in autumn sometimes bring 

 down bushels of fruit. It is well to bear in mind also that the flowers 

 of trees upon high ground, where the air is dry, are not so liable to be 

 caught by frost as those of trees planted in damp and low positions. If 

 the garden, therefore, affords any variety in elevation, rather choose the 

 higher than the lower ground. 



Soil. Land that is capable of growing ordinary garden vegetables 

 will also agree with Apple trees. If upon reaching a depth of two feet 

 water is found, drainage is necessary. In soil rendered cold and damp 

 by the almost continual presence of water Apple trees will not grow 

 satisfactorily. The best and simplest method to get rid of stagnant 

 water is to lay down drain-pipes five or six yards apart and about three 

 feet below the surface of the soil, taking care to so place them as to 

 give a slight fall towards, and connect them with, an outlet. 



Purchasing Trees. Always deal with a well-known firm, for strong, 

 healthy trees, true to name, may then be relied upon. It is wise to pay 

 a few more pence for a good article. Order in good time in the summer, 

 so that you may rely upon having the trees in early autumn the best 

 season for planting. If, when they arrive, it is not possible to plant 

 them at once, never leave the roots exposed to the air or they will soon 

 become dry and shrivelled ; take out a small trench in the border, lay 

 in the roots of the Apple trees, and cover them over with soil until 

 planting time. Only reliable varieties should be purchased, unless, as is 

 sometimes the case, an exceptionally good local kind is cultivated in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Planting. The work of planting fruit trees is important, and re- 

 quires to be carefully performed. The best time to do this is in the 

 month of November, before all the leaves have fallen, for then the trees 

 are able to become somewhat established before the winter months, and 

 in spring will be quite ready to make a good start. When planting is 

 deferred until winter the ground has by then become cold and probably 

 wet conditions that are most unfavourable to root action. It is wiser 

 to wait until the month of March than plant in midwinter, if it is not 

 possible to do so in November. Naturally, trees planted at that period 

 do not make such good growth the first season as those planted the pre- 

 vious autumn. Having finally decided upon the position, the next 

 thing is to make a hole sufficiently large to comfortably hold all the 

 roots when they are spread out. Nothing is more harmful to the well- 

 being of any plant than to cramp its roots into a small hole. The latter 

 should be square and not less than four feet in diameter, and the soil 

 taken out to a depth of two feet. The soil in the bottom of the hole 

 must also be well turned over, but not removed. A reliable guide as to 

 the depth at which fruit trees ought to be planted is to note how deep 

 they have been before ; this can invariably be seen by examining the 



