FRUITS. CHAP. 



the larger shoots of the roots you cut off to within six 

 inches of the stem, and you take entirely out all the 

 hairy fibres j for they never grow again and they are apt 

 to mould and to keep the earth from closely touching the 

 roots out of which the new shoots are to come. Having 

 pruned the root, you proceed to plant the tree. The 

 hole must be much deeper and wider than is required for 

 the mere reception of the root. The earth ought to be 

 broken very finely at the bottom of the hole. When 

 that is done, the root of the tree ought to be placed 

 upon it in such a manner as for the tree to stand about 

 an inch higher above the ground than it stood before it 

 was removed. If the tree be to be placed against a 

 wall, the head should lean gently against the wall, and 

 the bottom of the trunk about eight or ten inches from 

 it : if the tree be to be planted in the open ground, 

 the trunk should be held perfectly upright : while thus 

 held, very fine earth should be put upon the roots : if it 

 were sifted, so much the better : the tree should be 

 joggled or shaken a little to cause the earth to go down 

 and in amongst the roots and fill up all the cavities > so 

 that the fine earth may touch the roots, and lie closely 

 round them in every part. If you tumble in the rough 

 earth, which would leave part of the roots untouched, 

 the parts so untouched will mould, will perish, or 

 become cankered. When the roots are all covered with 

 very fine earth, you may fill up the hole with the earth 

 that has come out of it, only taking care to break it 

 very fine. Before you have put in quite all the earth, 

 give a gentle tread all round the tree with your foot, 

 treading first at a foot distance from the tree, and ap- 

 proaching all round to within three or four inches ; then 



