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good surface soil, laid round each tree after planting;
ploughing the ground for a fallow crop the next spring,
when the mud has become completely pulverized by
the frost:  the size of the hole should be sufficiently
large to admit a spade handle, when laid horizontally
in the bottom; affording ample space for the expansion
of the roots in loose rich earth.  Well digested compost
is useful round newly planted trees, in stiff or cold
soils - both lime, and fresh stable manure, I have
found prejudicial in the dry and hot weather of summer; 
the latter substance is also frequently a cover for
moles and field mice, which are extremely injurious
in winter, to trees of even six or eight years old in
light soils.  I have found great benefit from the application
of every kind of manure on the surface, and mixing
it gradually by cultivation with the soil, as the best
security against drought in summer and vermin in 
winter.

The proper season for planting, will be found to depend
on a variety of circumstances- in light soils, the
winter settles the earth round the roots, and best secures
them against the drought of the following season
- it is a time of leisure to the farmer, and affords
an early selection of trees from the nursery. In stiff
or wet soils, I should give a preference to spring planting,
other circumstances being equal. I have planted 
at both seasons, and have generally found that care and
attention ensured a correspondent success in the growth
of my trees. In whatever season an orchard may be
planted, too much attention cannot be given to extend
the roots in every direction; to cut off all wounded
parts, and more especially, not to plant too deep; this
I believe is the common error of inexperienced planters.
As a general rule, I would recommend that the
tree be placed in the orchard with about three inches of
earth over the upper tier of roots, which will make it
about two inches deeper than it stood in the nursery;
that the tree, after being partially covered, should be
well shaken, to admit the finer particles of the earth
        