112 



HOCKINGS GARDEN MANUAL. 



Planting, soil, dec. : It is presupposed that the soil 

 is thoroughly trenched to' the depth of two feet six 

 inches before planting, and that, if draining is requisite, 

 the whole space has been drained at least six inches 

 deeper than it has been trenched. The trenching should 

 be done some months before planting time if practicable, 

 as the texture of the soil gets greatly improved by the 

 action of the atmosphere. Where the trenching has 

 been faithfully performed, it will be desirable, when 

 digging out the holes in which to plant the trees, not 

 to disturb the earth too deep, or else when it sinks 

 down the tree will be taken too far below the surface. 

 The holes should be dug to suit each tree, so that it is 

 not set deeper in the soil than it stood in thenursery ; and 

 if the earth is rough, or for other reasons it is deemed 

 prudent to cover the roots with a greater depth 

 of earth, it should be brought round the tree in the 

 form of a mound, or it may be supplied as a mulching. 

 On planting, the roots should be spread out parallel 

 with the surface, and radiating from the stem to all 

 points \ and, if the earth is not naturally fine and of 

 good quality, some first-class mould should be provided 

 to place in immediate contact with the roots, filling 

 up the interstices, and covering them, gently pressing 

 it down. The trees may be sixteen to twenty-five feet 

 apart. 



Digging should never be permitted nearer the trees 

 than the tips of the outside branches, as the roots are 

 on the surface, and, if injured, the branches will die 

 back. 



Some successful growers use the knife very freely 

 upon young trees, at the winter pruning, with good 

 results. The tree, while young, appears liable to out- 

 grow its strength, and the long unripened shoots pro- 

 duced one year die back the next, leaving it in a 

 debilitated state, a ready prey for disease. Observing 

 this tendency, it should be the object of the intelligent 

 cultivator to assist nature, by reducing all long, strag- 



