ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



975 



The best time to plant all fruit-trees is early in November. If 

 the land is heavy, the trees may be placed on the surface, no 

 excavation being made,- and the roots covered with soil, thus 

 forming a mound of soil over the roots, which are all above 

 the ground-level. Trees thus planted usually succeed very well 

 if properly staked immediately after planting, and mulched for the 

 first year with strawy manure. On lighter or warmer land, holes 

 should be excavated according to the depth necessary to cover 

 the roots ; the sides and bottom of the hole should be well 

 broken to allow water to pass away freely and to permit of the 

 roots penetrating into the surrounding soil. Deep-planting 

 should be guarded against, as the nearer the roots are to the 

 surface, the better for the future welfare of the tree. No time 

 ought to be lost in properly securing the tree in position after 

 planting, thus preventing any shifting or rocking about by wind, 

 which would delay its root-action or establishment. Many grave 

 mistakes have been made in planting dwarf and half-standard 

 Apple-trees deeply to avoid the expense of staking : such trees 

 are seldom, if ever, satisfactory, and it would have been far 

 more economical to plant properly, and stake the trees until 

 firmly established in their positions. 



Standard Trees. — The country seat of a gentleman can scarcely 

 be termed complete without an orchard, and if this is planted 

 with first-class sorts it will prove most valuable to the occupier or 

 owner by producing good 

 crops most years. Sometimes 

 climatic influences will destroy 

 the greatest promise of fruit 

 at the blossoming period ; 

 but it must be a bad season 

 indeed that will cause all the 

 fruit-trees to be barren. Where 

 cattle are admitted to the 

 orchard it is advisable to have 

 all trees with a stem at least 

 6ft. from the ground to the 

 branches. Immediately after 

 planting, the trees ought to 

 be securely fastened to stout 

 stakes, employing grass bands 

 or old pieces of hose-piping 

 to prevent the ties from 

 cutting into the young stems, 

 and thus injuring them. 

 It will also be necessary to protect the trees with wooden or 

 iron guards, otherwise sheep, cattle, or ground game will devour 

 the bark, and kill every one. If planted as already advised, 

 and mulched with strawy manure for a year, little attention is 



Fig. 631. — Apple Ecklinville 

 Seedling. 



