8 
liberal quantity of well decomposed or fermented barn yard ma- 
uure should be worked into the entire orchard ground. This is 
usually deferred until the tree is planted or afterwards, and then 
the manure is either inserted with the tree, or piled up in a heap 
about its body. By this pernicious practice, the roots are not in- 
duced to push out in quest of food, but rather are enticed back- 
wards toward the tree, and our heavy winds find it an easy and 
pleasant pastime to secure its ready obeisance in any desired direc- 
tion. Besides this, unfermented horse or other manure, by heat- 
ing after being thus stacked about the tree, will often kill it, root 
and branch. But to bank up with common soil around the trunk 
of a newly planted tree in the fall of the year is a highly beneti- 
cial practice, it being an entirely safe covering for the trunk, and 
when frozen, it becomes a firm prop upon every side during the 
winter. 
If trees grow as thriftily as they should after planting, in three 
or four years their roots will have extended to a distance of some 
eight or twelve feet in all directions from the tree. 
A minute examination also shows that the small fibrous extrem- 
ities of the roots are abundantly supplied with absorbents called 
spongioles. It should be known and remembered that the tree 
draws almost its entire nourishment through these spongioles—they 
are the myriad mouths by which it obtains its food. 
The large roots hold the tree in position, and convey to it the 
food which is obtained by these feeders. Now ridiculous, then, is 
the practice of placing all the fertilizing material in so close prox- 
imity to the tree and its larger roots. It is like tying the horse 
very tightly to the manger, and then carefully packing away his 
food against the side of the stable, behind him!! Therefore, it 
will be found best to mingle the manure with the deeply broken 
up and well mellowed soil before the trees are planted. It, how- 
ever, can be applied and ploughed in afterward, if circumstances 
make it necessary. 
Dratninc.—The orchard, if a success, is designed to be a per- 
manent institution. If its convenient location near the dwelling, 
or for any other good cause, it must needs be planted upon land 
naturally too level, it should be raised by plowing into ridges, and 
upon them the trees should be set. By plowing towards the trees 
after planting, the facilities for easy and rapid surface drainage, can 
