52 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



accumulation of water, and that of course can 

 be prevented by drainage. 



The consolidation of the soil has a bearing 

 upon cultural problems. A hard condition 

 checks root development and hinders free 

 growth, but it has a tendency to induce greater 

 subdivision of the roots, and in a degree may 

 promote earlier fruit-bearing. In the opposite 

 direction a loose condition of the soil encou- 

 rages rapid growth, and if such a soil be rich 

 as well, it often results in excessive growth 

 with corresponding unfruitfulness. 



Preparation of the Soil. — To prepare the 

 ground properly, the directions given in treat- 

 ing of the formation of the kitchen-garden 

 should be followed. If circumstances will not 

 admit of their being carried out to their full 

 extent, they should be kept in view, and acted 

 upon as far as possible. If the ground requires 

 draining, that should be seen to in the first 

 place. It must then be well trenched, whether 

 the plantation be of small or large extent, for 

 in either case the trees will amply repay the 

 trouble of the operation. In trenching let the 

 good soil be thrown up where it is deep ; let all 

 inequalities which may then appear in the bot- 

 tom of the trench be reduced, and when all is 

 trenched over, the surface can either be levelled 

 or made to form a regular slope or slopes, such 

 as may be found to agree best with its general 

 inclination. In wet or cold subsoils it has been 

 recommended to plant the trees on the surface, 

 or on raised mounds or ridges. This may suc- 

 ceed very well for a time, but ultimately the 

 roots will go down after moisture if this 

 should in some dry summers be deficient near 

 the top. It is therefore a much better plan to 

 drain the subsoil effectually, and thus render 

 high planting unnecessary, so far as regards too 

 much moisture at the root. A tree cannot 

 thrive when the extremities of the roots are in 

 a dry medium, even although the soil close to 

 the stem may be moist in consequence of the tree 

 being placed in a hollow. If, on the contrary, 

 the soil at the root extremities be moist, it is 

 of less consequence if it is dry near the stem. 



Where the soil is light, and not naturally rich 

 enough, it should be well manured. We do 

 not wish to encourage over-luxuriance in any 

 case, but a healthy vigorous growth should be 

 promoted. If, consistent with this, a tree make 

 annually twice the quantity of shoots and foliage 

 that another does that is stinted of nourishment, 

 the former will be able to bear double the quan- 

 tity of fruit, although it may not be disposed to 

 commence bearing at so early a period. 



Instead of applying manure from the farm- 

 yard in a fresh state, it is better to form it into 

 a compost with a proportion of a soil that would 

 by itself prove beneficial. Turfy loam will in 

 all cases be suitable. The compost should be 

 worked in as the trenching proceeds, and it 

 should be placed chiefly between 1 foot and 2 

 feet below the surface. Some good compost 

 ought to be reserved for mixing with the soil 

 when planting the tree. 



Selecting Trees. — Healthy young Apple-trees 

 can be obtained in any quantity from the lead- 

 ing British nurseries. It is possible to secure 

 trees of some varieties by thousands, even in 

 size and moderate in price. Still, it is well 



Fig. 847.— Standard Apple. 



for all who are purchasing in large numbers to 

 inspect the plantations themselves, and at least 

 select a sample of what they require. The 

 propagation of Apple-trees is seldom resorted 

 to in gardens at the present time, except for 

 the perpetuation of special varieties that are 

 not readily procurable, or on large estates 

 where trees are raised for the tenants. This 

 part of the subject is reviewed later in this 

 chapter as a needful part of the gardener's 

 knowledge, but one which he is only called 

 upon to exercise in special cases. The selection 



