RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE 



27 



CHAPTEE VI. 



WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT. 



THE best time to plant fruit trees is early in November, 

 as soon as possible after the leaves fall. As the ground 

 is then warmer than the air, some new roots may be 

 made before winter, while, the sap having ceased to flow, the 

 trees are at rest, and have no longer to carry on the vital 

 functions connected with growth, so that the disturbance has 

 no injurious effect on them. 



WHY TREES SHOULD BE PLANTED WHEN LEAFLESS. 



It is true that, for some weeks before the leaves fall, 

 the sap has ceased to flow, but there is a serious objection 

 to doing anything that would bring them down prematurely 



Fig. 9.— Layer of loose ceils at the base 01 the leafstalk when the leaf is ready to fall. 



or interfere with the natural process of withering. The 

 yellowing in autumn is due, not to the actual destruction 

 of the green colouring matter, but to the fact that it, or part of 



