42 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



carefully spread out all round, occupying the 

 ground without crossing each other if possible. 

 Fine pulverised soil must be shaken over this 

 lowest tier, but no manure must ever touch them. 

 Never tread on the roots, as so many do, and 

 never move the tree up and down, which absurd 

 practice has the effect of doubling up the fine ends 

 of the roots underneath. Break down the sides of 

 the hole for fresh earth, and place pieces of turf 

 cut from a rich field for the roots to run into at 

 their first start. Then the upper tier of the roots 

 should be spread out fanwise in the same careful 

 way, and equally covered. When the earth is 

 filled in to three -fourths, water freely in light soils, 

 and less in firm ones. More water in any case 

 should be given to trees planted in the spring. 

 Mulching at the time of transplanting is an excel- 

 lent old custom ; it excludes frost, and lessens 

 evaporation. 



Deep planting is an evil in the case of fruit 

 trees. No tree should be planted deeper than it 

 formerly grew, or it will be in danger of having its 

 roots stifled for want of air ; and this will cause 

 the tree to languish, till, by an effort of nature, it 

 pushes out roots nearer to the surface for air. 

 Thus delay will arise instead of progress. It is by 

 far the best, especially in firm and retentive soils, 

 to plant the tree so that a small mound is ne- 



