138 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



adding some few directions for planting and pruning. And as 

 at the time of the issue of the leaflet on " Fruits for Cottagers " 

 I took very great pains to draw up and condense into the smallest 

 possible compass some notes upon these subjects, which notes 

 were very kindly revised and approved by several members of our 

 Society's Fruit Committee, it can do no harm to repeat them 

 in substance, as this paper may reach some who have not seen 

 the other. 



The best time for planting all fruits is late October and 

 throughout November, except for Strawberries, which should be 

 planted in August or early in September. 



Just digging a hole, cramming the roots in, shovelling the 

 soil over, stamping it down, and leaving it is the wrong way to 

 plant any trees, and can only result in failure. 



The right way is : — 



i. Break up all the earth to a depth of 18 inches, either 

 in a square or circle of at least 3 feet across, but without 

 bringing the bottom spit to the top. 



ii. If the roots are in any way jagged or torn, cut the 

 points cleanly off with a sharp knife, and at the same time 

 shorten back all straight- downward roots, unless they will 

 easily bend out to right and left. 



hi. Place the tree in the hole at such a depth that when 

 the planting is finished it will be at the same depth as it 

 was in the nursery, which will be easily seen by the soil- 

 mark on the stem. The depth should be such that the 

 uppermost roots will be about three or four inches below the 

 surface when the planting is finished. 



iv. The roots will generally be found to be growing from 

 various parts of the stem. Spread oat the lowest roots care- 

 fully on the soil in the hole and scatter a little fine earth 

 over them ; then spread out the roots next above these, add- 

 ing more soil ; then those above them, and so on, giving a 

 little shake now and then to let the soil run in between the 

 fine roots. The object of this is that when all is finished 

 and done, the roots may lie in the ground almost at right 

 angles with the part of the stem from which they issue, 

 and tier above tier. 



v. When all the roots are spread out and covered, give 

 the tree a good vigorous shake, add a little more soil, and 



