70 



The hole should be three feet square, convex in the centre, or 

 of the shape of an inverted saucer. This is done by heaping up 

 some loose surface soil, so that when the tree is planted its base 

 stands a little higher than the roots, which spread out evenly round, 

 radiating outwards with a slight dip downwards. 



Wherever patches of hard ironstone conglomerate, such as are 

 met with at places on the Darling Range, or of impervious peaty or 

 calcareous hardpan, such as exist sometimes round ti-tree swainps in 

 the coastal zone, occur, a cheap and convenient method of getting 

 rid of them will be by shattering them by means of cartridges of 

 dynamite, or else by IJlb. cha.rgesof black blasting powder rammed 

 into holes two inches in diameter bored through the hard pan. By 

 this means numerous crevices will be formed which will promote the 

 drainage of the land and permit the roots of the plants penetrating 

 through the pan and gaining access to the subsoil underneath. 



Selecting the trees from the nursery requires some discrimination. 

 The varieties to be planted having been decided upon, place the 

 order with a good and reliable nurseryman, preferably a local one 

 with a reputation to keep up. Sixpence more on the price of a tree, 

 when compared with the fruit peddler's quotations, may have to be 

 paid, but it will be money well invested. I am every season 

 receiving for identification fruit from trees ordered from bogus 

 nurseries, or from " cheap " trees sold by auction, which often are 

 not what they were represented to be. These are mostly the 

 unsold stock of nurseries, and are often sickly, and may not 

 be true to name. 



When buying trees it is well to stipulate that the stems should 

 be smooth, the roots not too much hacked about ; that the trees, if 

 peaches, should be on peach stock, except when planted on heavy 

 clay or in damp places, when they might be on plums ; apples on 

 northern spy, citrus trees on bitter orange, or on pomelo, to guard 

 against collar rot. It is well to require some guarantee that the 

 trees are free from fungi and injurious insects, and more particularly 

 some of the worst scale insects. 



On arrival, each tree should be carefully examined for any 

 indication of root galls, scale insects, black aphis, borers, or fungoid 

 disease, and unless it is accompanied with a certificate of disinfection 

 at the nursery, it should be treated by dipping in warm whale-oil 

 soap suds (lib. of whale-oil to 3 gallons of water), or in kerosene 

 emulsion for a couple of minutes in the case of insect pests, or in 

 Bordeaux mixture in the case of fungoid disease. 



They are then heeled in without delay. For that purpose a 

 trench is dug in moist but well-drained soil and the trees placed in 

 it, slanting towards the same direction, and loose, well- pulverised 

 earth banked up round the roots and every part of the stems ; the 

 trees will stand in that state until required for planting. 



It happens that they are sometimes barkbound, showing a 

 leathery, shrivelled bark. In that case they should be thoroughly 

 drenched first and then stratified or covered up with moist loose 



