PLANTING. 29 



wet weather, for in order to assist the roots 

 in striking into the soil as soon as possible, 

 it is requisite to press it a little, so that it 

 closes upon them, which if done at such time 

 the soil would become like mortar; and 

 when such soil becomes dry, it generally 

 bakes very hard together, and in that state 

 is very improper for young trees. It also 

 frequently cracks afterwards so as sometimes 

 to break the tender roots. 



But if the planting has been deferred until 

 spring, and it is high time that the trees 

 should be planted, and the weather should 

 still continue wet, let as much mould as is 

 necessary for the size of the hole be thrown 

 out, and a few barrows full of drier soil be 

 substituted for it. The soil should be of the 

 same quality as the border, and if none of 

 this has been preserved under cover for this 

 purpose, let some from the border be taken 

 and dried, till in a proper state wherein to 

 plant the tree. 



When the planting is to be done, (the 

 borders having been made a suitable time 

 previous) mark out the proper distance from 

 tree to tree as the respective sorts require, 

 (See directions for this in the treatment of each) 

 the longer time the holes are made before \ 

 the time of planting the trees, the better for I 

 the soil, as it gets enriched by the atmos- 

 phere. 



The size of the hole must be regulated ac- 



