SICKLY FRUIT TREES. 109 



a wet one; and a large board should be laid 

 over the roots upon the mulch, in an incli- 

 ning direction from the trees in order to pro- 

 tect the roots as much as possible from heavy 

 drenching rains, which at that time would 

 be injurious to such trees. 



In addition to this treatment of trees that 

 are planted in a wet soil, if the border has 

 not been sufficiently drained, this should be 

 done as soon as possible. (See proper direc- 

 tions for formation of fruit tree borders.) And 

 if the border was properly drained, some well 

 rotted tanner's bark, gravel, &c. must be 

 trenched*' in that part of the border into 

 which the roots have not struck. 



If the instructions given be attended to 

 for two years, and the tree does not recover 

 in that time, it is the best plan to take it 

 away and replace it by another. But unless 

 the tree is affected by an incurable disease: 

 the attending to the practice directed, will 

 be successful. 



A tree will sometimes be weakly and 

 stinted in its growth for several years after 

 planting, by it having been planted in a 

 careless and improper manner; this I have 

 frequently found to be the case with those 

 trees, that previous to being planted in the 

 border, had grown in pots, the roots of which 

 being thus confined, generally run round the 

 side of the pot, and become matted together. 

 These when planted, having been allowed to 



