18 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



may take place any time up to March, provided there is 

 no frost, and the soil is not too wet. Many amateurs 

 make the mistake of planting as late as March. If a long 

 spell of hot, dry weather should follow, the buds will 

 start to grow, and feed upon the reserve sap in the wood 

 before new roots have a chance of forming and replenishing 

 the supply. The result will be a cessation of growth, the 

 young growths and foliage will be stunted, and the tree 

 be either severely crippled or it will die. If such late plant- 

 ing cannot be avoided, a heavy mulch of manure should 

 be placed on the soil around the tree, some haybands 

 twisted around the lower branches, and the latter, as well 

 as the upper part, be well syringed morning and evening 

 until new roots are formed, and the tree can make healthy 

 growth. 



What Age of Tree to Buy. This is an important ques- 

 tion. If standards, half-standards, pyramids, or espaliers, 

 the best age would be three to four years. If bushes or 

 cordons, then two to three year old trees would be a suit- 

 able age. Maiden i.e., one-year-old trees are pre- 

 ferred by many growers, because they are easier to estab- 

 lish in their new quarters ; but these are not recommended 

 to those who have had a limited experience in fruit culture, 

 for the simple reason that technical knowledge is essential 

 to prune them in such a way that they shall make good spe- 

 cimens in future. Tree's that have been trained by experts 

 for three or four years usually have their future shape 

 properly determined, and their after-training consequently 

 becomes easier. 



Treatment of Newly-bought Trees. When the trees 

 arrive from the nursery they should be unpacked and the 

 roots examined. If any of the roots are bruised, the in- 

 jured portions should be cut back to healthy tissue, so as 

 to make a clean wound ; otherwise, when planted, the 

 bruised parts will decay and canker follow. If the roots, 

 moreover, are dry, immerse them for a few hours in water. 



