44 PLANTING—METHODS AND PROCESSES 
nitrate of soda around the tree, keeping it away from the 
bark. On no account put any water in the hole with the 
young tree ; though, if the ground is excessively dry, you 
may pour one or two bucketfuls of water over the roots 
when you have finished the planting. 
All through the operations be particularly careful you 
do not let the roots of the young trees dry out. A few 
minutes’ exposure will suffice to spoil them. It is a 
good plan to have all the holes dug first, or, at any rate, 
a large number at a time. And even then, as you lay 
the trees down whilst you are actually engaged in plant- 
ing one, keep the others covered with a damp bag or sack. 
Fatt v. Spring Piantine.—One sometimes hears 
discussions as to the respective advantages of fall and 
spring planting. As an academic question, there can 
hardly exist a doubt that it is preferable to plant in the 
fall. This gives the young tree a chance to make an 
early start in the following spring before the hot days 
of summer arrive. The fall is the season, too, when the 
majority of fruit-growers have the most time to spare, 
and the planting can consequently be done more leisurely, 
and, what is of the first importance, more thoroughly. 
The principal objection to fall planting is that the young 
fruit-trees do not become sufficiently dormant to lift in 
the nursery until the season is too late ; and to plant young 
trees which are not dormant is folly. These remarks 
tell with double force if the trees are being purchased 
from a nursery situated in a warmer or milder locality 
than that in which the orchard is to be made. Hence 
the practice almost universally followed is to plant in 
spring, and as early as possible in the spring. 
