146 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



ignorance or inattention, penetrate such a subsoil, a pool 

 of water would be formed by tlie first rains tliat fell, of 

 the size of the pit, where, being held as in a cup, the 

 roots of the tree would be chilled on its removal, and the 

 tree itself probably killed in the first season. 



Supposing further, that from necessity, or perhaps from 

 - choice, the planter cannot wait the prescribed space of a 

 twelyemonth for the most propitious time for removal, 

 and will be content with a less perfect comminution, and 

 a less intimate incorporation of the materials, let him 

 proceed as follows. Having marked out the pit and its 

 dimensions, and laid the compost, or extra earth, or both, 

 as the case may be, six feet out from the centre, let the 

 workmen in the first place, spade the whole into the 

 centre at the stake, and, mixing it as much as possible by 

 that operation, form a high and narrow heap round the 

 stake. Let them next open the pit to the depth wanted, 

 as before noticed ; but instead of trenching or double- 

 digging, they must turn out the contents to the outside 

 edges ; throwing over for every stratum of a spit deep, a 

 corresponding stratum of the mixed mass from the centre, 

 till the pit is thus excavated to the proper depth. As 

 soon as the stake is driven down, the workmen begin, 

 each at a diff*erent part of the mound thrown out, and 

 work round the pit, so as to give a sort of half-trenching 

 or turning over to the mound, by tossing it to and fro 

 throughout its whole extent. The contents being in the 

 loosest possible state, this can be done with great rapidity ; 

 and when the workmen meet in the half-trenching the 

 business is completed. The pit is then ready for the 

 immediate planting of the tree. Thus the greatest com- 

 minution of these mingled ingredients is obtained with 

 the least labour, and by only once throwing out ; but the 

 most intimate mixture is absolutely necessary. It is true 



