138 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Dig the Hole for your Tree, large enough and deep enough, to let 

 your tree down as near the same depth as it was in the nursery, giving it 

 ample room so that when you set the tree in the hole, there will be no 

 cramped roots, and as you fill in the loose dirt, carefully shake up and down, 

 that the loose dirt may work under and around the roots well and exclude 

 the air, as any air left under the roots, will cause them to mould and pre- 

 vent them feeding the tree with sap. In digging the hole, throw your top 

 soil to one side, and the subsoil to the other, and as you fill in, throw in the 

 top dirt first, and your subsoil last, as the top dirt is usually the richest, and 

 will nourish the roots best. After you have filled the hole with loose dirt 

 and got it well settled around and under the roots, tramp in well with both 

 feet, each side of the tree at the same time, this will firm your tree evenly, 

 then fill loose dirt over your tramping and leave the top loose and it will act 

 as a mulch until further treatment, which I will try to describe later on. 

 Experience has taught me, that these little precautions have well repaid 

 their observance, and you had better take time and set what you can well 

 in a day, than to hurry them in the ground as is often done, and lose half 

 your trees through sheer carelessness. I would advise you to choose a slope 

 to the north upon which to set your orchard, if possible, as the frost will 

 remain longer in the ground in the spring, thus preventing too early flow 

 of sap until the cold blasts are past. If you cannot have a north slope, you 

 will do well to throw long manure around your trees any time after the frost 

 sets in, and thus retain it in the spring. You may think these precautions 

 too much trouble, if so, do not spend your money and time attemping to 

 grow fruit. There is no excellence in any line of life, without labor and 

 care in some way. 



Nepcan, Out. L. FOOTE, 



APPLES FOR EXPORT.— n. 



A NOTHER thing is the " grading " of the fruit. This should not be over- 

 (s/m done but where the quantity of any one variety admits of it, a judicious 

 selection of sizes and colors will be to the advantage of the exporter. 

 Each lot should be distinguished by the brand and so advised on consign- 

 ment note. 



Another point of great importance is tight packing. This doubtless, 

 most growers are aware of, yet we must urge it again, as some either do not 

 know, or do not practice. 



We well remember a small lot of apples, sent by a private party from 

 New York to our care. No doubt the fruit must not be crushed (so 

 thought the sender), so when opened, the barrels were but three parts full, 

 and fit for little but the manure heap. Even with consignments of experi- 



