THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 151 



PLANTING. 



The border and trees being in readiness, the operation 

 of planting is a very simple one. The first thing to 

 decide is the distance at -which the trees are to be 

 planted. I am averse to thick planting for permanent 

 trees. To restrict a peach-tree planted in a good 

 peach-border is very unadvisable. They should have 

 plenty of room to develop themselves. For a peach- 

 hoitse wall 35 feet long, two standard trees on the back 

 are quite sufficient, thus planting them 9 feet from each 

 end of the house. On the front trellis other two dwarfs 

 are enough. Should it be an object to get as much fruit 

 as possible in a short time, a temporary tree may be 

 planted, one between the two permanent ones and one 

 at each end, to be removed as the two permanent trees 

 require the space. In the case- of the front trellis, the 

 temporary trees should be standards so as to clothe 

 the upper part of the trellis for the time being. Before 

 planting them carefully examine the roots, and shorten 

 back a little any that are gross and strong, and cut 

 away all bruised or broken parts. Turn back the 

 soil sufficiently to allow the roots to be stretched 

 fully and regularly out on the surface. Place the 

 boles of the trees so that they will be three to 

 four inches clear of the back wall and the front 

 trellis-work, so that they may have plenty of room 

 to swell without pressing on the wall or trellis. Cover 

 the roots carefully with the finer portion of the soil to 

 the depth of 6 inches, making it rather firm. Fix the 

 tree loosely to the wall, and water the roots through a 

 rose. 



The season I prefer for planting is autumn, say the 



