162 Transplanting Fruit Trees in the Autumn. 



the top of the stake to appear more than four inches above 

 the surface of the ground. If the bottom soil is not rich, on 

 replacing it I mix a good quantity of well rotted compost 

 manure (a few old bones or bone dust will do well here), 

 with it; I fill with this to within four inches of the lower 

 roots ; and then use my top soil, laid aside for that purpose, 

 to the roots. 



Previous to taking up the tree or bush to be transplanted, 

 I remove every leaf, by cutting them off with a sharp scis- 

 sors ; 1 take up every tree in the morning of a clear day, 

 and place the roots in a tub of soap suds, saved for the pur- 

 pose the last washing day; let them remain here till after- 

 noon, (twenty- four hours will not injure them.) The sun 

 having warmed the ground, I place the tree in its position, 

 with a wisp of straw between it and the stake, and secure 

 well to the stake with good bass or Russia matting both 

 below and above the straw ; you then have a good tap root 

 in the stake to secure against all winds and frost, and 

 nothing to chafe either the body or limbs. Now fill up 

 with top soil or earth, in the usual manner, observing to 

 have it well pulverized, to do which there is no difficulty 

 at this season of the year ; the soil must be pressed well up 

 under the main roots and about the heel of the tree; all the 

 roots should be spread carefully out, in their natural posi- 

 tion, and the earth pressed down over each layer of roots ; 

 covering the top roots not more than four inches deep, 

 treading gently round to press the top soil about them : 

 every broken root should be cut off" with a sharp knife. 

 Late in the autumn, say November, a little more soil may 

 be thrown over to protect the roots in winter, and removed 

 in spring. 



In several instances, after planting thus early, I have 

 examined the roots in November, and invariably found that 

 they had made new rootlets ; in one instance, having to 

 remove a pear tree on quince stock, in November, after 

 having set it out the first of September, I found it had made 

 new roots nearly a foot in length. Great care should be 

 taken not to set the roots too deep, particularly on moist or 

 adhesive soils. Should the drought effect them on light dry 

 soils, a half peck to a peck, according to the size of the 

 tree, of unleached wood ashes, placed round from the body 

 of the tree, to the distance of four feet, and well watered, 

 will effectually prevent any injury from drought. 



