OF PLUMS. 23 



open the ground round their roots, and cut in the 

 strong ones (which will cause them to put forth 

 fine young fibres) ; then fill in the earth. In the 

 following autumn, or during the winter (the sooner 

 the better), you may transplant them out as stand- 

 ards.* If you intend to plant them against a wall, 

 never cut the side-shoots, but only the roots ; by 

 this method the trees wn'll bear fruit the first year 

 after transplanting, and there will be a great saving 

 of time and money. I have often transplanted 

 old plum-trees that have been headed down, that 

 have made very fine roots, which I have divided, 

 and thereby obtained four or five trees from one, 

 cutting them so as to form them into fine heads. 

 Some that were transplanted in 1798 were in full 

 blossom in 1799, producing some fruit, and this 

 year (1800) bearing a full crop. 



The ground in the borders and quarters where 

 fresh trees are to be planted should be well trenched, 

 two spits deep at least, to give the roots room to 

 run into the fresh-stirred ground. 



When you plant trees without stirring the mould, 

 they seldom thrive well. 



When plum-trees are planted for standards in an 

 orchard wdiich is to be kept for grass, they should 



* In transplanting of trees, especially large ones, I consider 

 it to be of great consequence, that they be placed in the same 

 position (that is, having the same parts facing the same points 

 of the compass) as formerly. If you take notice when a tree is 

 cut down, you will find that three parts in four of the growth 

 are on the North side. 



c 4 



