PROPAGATION. 137 



should be spaded and thoroughly pulverized to the depth 

 of two feet, (trenched). In it plant the trees in rows four 

 feet distant, and three feet apart in the rows. Two hun- 

 dred trees would thus occupy a space fifty feet square. 

 The roots having been carefully examined, and, as before 

 mentioned, the laterals pruned to six or eight inches, are 

 spread out horizontally, and gently covered with earth. 

 It will be seen that the labor of pinching, pruning, and 

 cultivating, will be much less on so small a spot, than 

 when the cultivator is obliged to travel over three or four 

 acres upon which they are ultimately to be planted. 



"If at the end of two years it is still desirable to allow 

 them to remain, a sharp spade should be thrust down 

 around them, at a distance of fifteen or eighteen inches, in 

 order to cut the long straggling roots, and thus induce 

 the formation of fibres nearer home. This will fit them 

 for transplanting at an advanced stage of growth. In 

 this case, if at the end of two or three years, they are re- 

 moved at the proper season, and with care, they will suf- 

 fer scarcely any check. By pursuing this plan, they re- 

 ceive better care, grow faster, and are not liable to dam- 

 age ; and .as only the good trees will, in this case, be set 

 in the fruit grounds, none of those unseemly breaks in the 

 rows, caused by the injury or death of a tree, need occur. 

 Where, however, older trees, at least once transplanted, 

 cannot be obtained, and it is desirable to set out the orch- 

 ard at once, stout two-year old trees are decidedly prefer- 

 able. Such trees have not stood sufficiently long to send 

 their roots beyond a limit whence they can be removed ; 

 and with careful digging, removal and planting, the pur- 

 chaser need not fear a loss of more than two per cent." 



