SELECTION AND PLANTING. 237 



When planting an orchard in the fall, it has been re- 

 commended to raise an embankment of eai-th about the 

 stem, for the double purpose of protecting the roots from 

 the frost, and also of preventing the action of the wind 

 swaying the tree and straining the roots. A copious 

 mulching is sometimes applied to keep out the frost, or at 

 least to prevent the frequent thawing and freezing of the 

 surface in our variable winters ; but whenever loose mate- 

 j'ial is left near the base of a young tree, we must expect 

 damage from the mice, which are attracted and sheltered, 

 and may commit sad devastations upon the bark before 

 spring. The banking and mulching may be combined 

 with advantage, and with less, danger from the mice, wliich 

 only work under cover and are often more injurious upon 

 older trees, surrounded with grass and weeds in neglected 

 orchards, than upon those newly planted and mulched, if" 

 a little care has been taken to remove the straw or tramp 

 it down near the stem. 



Distance. — The distance between the trees is a matter 

 that should be carefully determined. Their habit should 

 be considered, and their size, when fully developed, must 

 be studied. Some varieties will be more crowded at forty 

 feet apart, than others at fourteen. If possible, the larger 

 and widely spreading sorts should be assorted and planted 

 by themselves, and the more compact, upright and smaller 

 ones should be grouped together. It is difficult to do 

 this, however, for want of the necessary data ; we can only 

 make an approximation to the desired result. Thus, the Tel- 

 low Bellflower, Summer Queen, Fall Pippin, King of Tomp- 

 kins County, Talman's Sweet, Golden Sweet, Pennock, 

 Northern Spy, and several others, are of the largest kind of 



