PLANTING. 219 



with 3111. branch pipes connected to a 4-in. main. The 

 average cost of drainage per acre is about 8 to 9. 

 Since draining, to be effective, must be carried out skil- 

 fully, we recommend the reader to get an expert to carry 

 out such work. 



Treatment of Trees before Planting. When trees 

 arrive from the nursery they should be unpacked, and if 

 their roots are dry be at once immersed in water for an 

 hour. If they cannot be planted at once, open a shallow 

 trench, place the roots in this, and then cover with soil. 

 During the process of planting do not expose the roots 

 long to the air, but cover them with an old sack or mat. 

 Carefully examine the roots also on arrival, and if any 

 are bruised or damaged cut off the injured portion to a 

 healthy part. Jagged or bruised roots, unless cut off, are 

 liable to be attacked later on by canker. 



Depth for Planting. The general and safe rule for 

 planting is not to bury the stem deeper than the soil 

 mark that is, the mark on the main stem which shows 

 the height to which the soil attained when the tree was 

 growing in the nursery. This would mean that the top 

 layer of roots would not be buried deeper than about 

 three inches. On heavy or damp soils it is advisable to 

 place the roots level with the surface of the soil, and to 

 cover them with soil so that a shallow sloping mound is 

 formed. 



Planting. In planting spread the roots out equally in 

 all directions, and do not attempt to twist them round to 

 fit the hole ; rather take care to widen the hole to allow 

 the roots to be spread out to their full length. Cover the 

 roots, first of all, with fine soil, free from manure, and 

 give the tree a gentle shake to settle the soil about the 

 roots. Add more soil, and then firmly tread it, and 

 finally add the remaining mould, afterwards mulching the 

 surface with strawy manure. Trees to be planted against 



