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earth or sand, root, stem and branches for a couple of days or so, 

 when, unless too far gone they assume their healthy look again. 



The best time for planting all sorts of trees is when the sap is 

 down, and after the autumn and winter rains have penetrated the 

 soil to a good depth. That time in this State will be from May 

 till August. Citrus trees are best set out after the first autumn 

 rain or, better still, late in the winter in August. Do not plant 

 while the earth is water-logged, as its handling at that time would 

 puddle it, and it would cake round the roots of the tree and 

 subsequently crack and let in the hot air that might parch up the 

 tender roots. 



On taking the trees from the trench, make, with a sharp 

 pruning knife a clean cut of any bruised root, and taking the tree 

 to the hole dug on the spot it is going to occupy, with a few 

 shovelsful of earth raise the bottom of the hole so that the collar or 

 ground line on the stem is flush with the surface ground of the 

 orchard. The tendency until a few years ago has been to plant 

 trees, more especially in this State, much too deeply, with the idea 

 that during our dry summers, the roots should be put as deep down 

 into the ground as possible so as to insure a proper amount of moisture 

 being: always within their reach. Collar rot, the rotting of the roots, 

 stunted growth, are all due to this defective method of planting, 

 and to this cause mainly must be attributed the loss of so many 

 fruit trees planted in this country. Deep planting, insufficient 

 pruning, deficient cultivation, neglect of pests, may be said to be at 

 the bottom of the failure of a great many fruit trees in this State. 



As a general rule, if the soil in which the tree is planted is the 

 same as the one from which it was taken, the tree should be set the 

 same depth as it was before it was removed from the nursery row. 

 If the soil is heavier, the tree should be set a trifle shallower, if 

 lighter it should be planted a shade deeper. 



Tree too deeply planted. Tree rightly planted. 



Tree set too shallow. 



