68 



H0CK1NGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



of the soil when it is planted, and let the earth be 

 heaped up to that height around it for a couple of feet 

 or so, in the form of a little hillock. Trees of a larger 

 size maybe rather more elevated. This applies to soils 

 of the ordinary description ; but in damp soils the 

 elevation should be still greater. In planting, the roots 

 should be laid as flat as possible, radiating in all direc- 

 tions from the stem. If any leaf mould or superior 

 earth is available, it may be put in between and among 

 the roots, beyond their circuit, and just above them, 

 but not below. When it is proposed to add manure, 

 it should be thoroughly decomposed by keeping twelve 

 months previously ; it may then be mixed with an 

 equal quantity of surface soil, and applied in the same 

 manner, not under the roots. The distance for standard 

 trees will be twenty to forty feet apart each way ; but 

 dwarf standards may be much closer, according to the 

 system of pruning pursued. 



Pruning : As the methods of pruning and training 

 fruit trees are very numerous, it will not be possible to 

 enter upon the subject in a mere handbook, but a few 

 leading directions will be given. The trees should 

 have a clear straight stem for three feet from the 

 ground ; a well balanced head should be trained from 

 this, consisting of four or five equal shoots in the form 

 of a cup. At the winter pruning, these may be short- 

 ened back two thirds of their length, and two young 

 shoots allowed to grow from each, which may, in their 

 turn, be cut back in the same manner. The pruning 

 for the following two seasons may be confined chiefly 

 to summer pruning, and will consist of pinching back 

 the young lateral shoots as they appear, at half-an-inch 

 to one inch long. This operation will have to be re- 

 peated three or four times during the summer, according 

 to the vigor of the trees ; and the only pruning neces- 

 sary afterwards will consist of the winter examination 

 for the lemoval of cross branches, the shortening of 

 long straggling leaders, and keeping the centre of the 

 tree open. 



