RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE. 29 



but less than a standard. Of course, for some years the trees 

 will not occupy all the ground allotted to them, and during 

 that period Currants and Gooseberries can be grown between 

 the rows. If the plantation of small fruit is intended to be 

 permanent, a not uncommon practice in market gardens, the 

 distances given above should be increased. In this connection 

 there is one point which should be borne in mind. The 

 heavier the land is cropped, the greater the amount of food 

 taken out of it, and consequently the greater the amount of 

 manure in some form or other which shall be applied to make 

 good the loss. 



SPRKAXtlNG OUT THE ROOTS. 



The excavation for each tree should be large enough 

 to hold all the roots when spread out evenly all round. Ac- 

 cording to a report issued by the Woburn Experimental Farm, 

 it would seem to be of very little importance how planting 

 is done, so long as the soil is brought into close contact with 

 the roots by means of ramming, but the grower who wishes 

 to take the fewest risks will adopt those methods which make 

 the strongest appeal to his reasoning faculties. Let us sup- 

 pose, then, that close contact with the soil is the one' condi- 

 tion necessary for successful planting. If the roots are 

 bunched together in a small hole, it will be almost impossible 

 for the soil to reach and enclose each and all of them, and 

 such growth as they are able to make will be only on the 

 outside. If, on the other hand, the roots are spread out sepa- 

 rately, near the surface, not only will they tend to grow 

 at that level, and to keep within the influence of the sunlight 

 and air, but also they will all be completely surrounded by 

 soil. It should be rammed firmly down upon them for two 

 reasons — firstly, in order that its moisture should induce the 

 growth of young roots as soon as possible, and, secondly, to 

 prevent any movement which might break them. Loose, 



