84 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



the hole should be made large enough to receive the 

 roots at full length. If a hall of earth can he retained so 

 much the better, as it will both protect the roots and steady 

 the tree. The roots should be as little exposed as possi- 

 ble ; they should rest upon a bed of fine soil, and be 

 covered with the same material. Two persons are needed 

 in this operation, one to hold the tree, very gently shaking 

 it while the other is sprinkhng with his spade the fine 

 earth about the roots. Care should be taken to have the 

 roots set firmly in the ground, and to let the earth pene- 

 trate and fill all their insterstices. When it is to be fixed 

 with water, after a little earth is thrown over the roots, 

 water is applied by pouring it from the open spout of a 

 watering pot, held as high as a man can reach ; more earth 

 is then thrown in and the water again applied. This sets 

 the tree firm without staking or treading the earth, as 

 usually done. Others spread the roots carefully and fill in 

 as above, but make the earth firm by treading the soil 

 closely about the roots as soon as they are sufficiently cov- 

 ered. If the roots are made firm either with water or 

 treading, and a proper proportion of the top taken off, the 

 tree will hardly req[uire staking. Formerly in transplant- 

 ing trees, they were frequently reduced to bare poles, but 

 now the tendency is to leave on too much top, especially 

 with those who derive their ideas from standard English 

 authors. In their moist climate, but very little of the top 

 requires removal, but with us the evaporation is so great 

 that a pretty severe pruning is required to insure success. 

 Besides, if the tree is thus pruned, you have its subsequent 

 growth under control, and can train it in any shape you 

 like. Where trees have been long out of the ground, it is 

 well to cover them entirely with earth a few days before 

 replanting. This will often restore freshness after they 

 begin to shrivel. Prune them very closely, taking off all 



