FEB.] PLANTING. 2O7 



crowded. This is seldom necessary for maiden trees, 

 but it is often so with respect to plants that have 

 stood several years in the nursery, or that have been 

 trained against walls or pales, and have made strong 

 rodts. 



The roots should be, in some measure, render- 

 ed proportionate to the tops; and as the shoots and 

 branches are to be headed down, or to be well 

 shortened and thinned out, it follows that the roots 

 should also be moderately thinned and pruned. In 

 doing this, however, be careful to retain those most 

 promising, and best furnished with fibres. 



The surface level being determined on, prepare 

 the pit so as that the plant may be placed just as 

 deep in the ground as it was before, and not deeper; 

 spreading out the roots and fibres, and carefully bed- 

 ding them in the compost prepared for that purpose, 

 as hinted at last month. Fill in the common earth, 

 gently tread it round the stem, keeping it a few 

 inches clear of the foundation, and secure the plant 

 from the bad effects of high winds, by tacking it to 

 the wall. Proceed thus, tree by tree, till all be 

 planted. They require no further care till March, 

 when it will be proper to head them down ; for 

 which operation, directions will then be given. 



It is hardly necessary to observe, that espalier 

 trees should be treated in every respect as above ; 

 and that buzelars, or dwarf standards, planted in- 

 stead of espaliers, as now often done, should be treat- 

 r d in the manner of orchard-trees, as under. 



