350 
THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 
ground, and crop it with vegetables for at least ten years. When 
a regular plantation of fruit trees is to he made, it is far preferable 
to choose a virgin soil, where, in the memory of men, no fruit trees 
of any kind have been grown or planted. In support of this opinion, 
we could state many facts which have come under our observation ; 
but the details would prove tedious to the reader. With regard to 
the season for planting the pear tree worked on the pear stock, and 
under the conditions of soil and situation above indicated, it coincides 
with the fall of the leaves, or a little after, say from the fifteenth of 
November to the fifteenth of December. In a strong and rather 
moist soil the planting may be performed after winter, and as late 
as the middle of March, but we prefer planting before winter. In 
light soils, plantations made immediately after the fall of the leaves, 
in the month of November, before hard frosts set in, are always the 
best. In order that the trees may suffer as little as possible from 
removal, their roots should not be allowed to dry by exposure to 
the air. After being taken up they should be immediately packed 
in damp moss. When the trees arrive at the place where thev are 
to he planted, all bruised fibres should be cut off, aud the larger 
roots that may have been broken in taking up should be cut with a 
sharp knife, commencing a little from the ends on to the under side, 
and sloping upwards. 
For a tree two or three years budded the holes should be made 
three feet wide, and tw r o and a half feet deep. If the soil be strong 
and compact, the holes may be proportionally wider and deeper. 
It is always advisable to put in the bottom of the hole a layer of 
good light rich earth taken from the surface of a kitchen garden ; 
and the roots should be covered with some of the same sort of soil. 
If the trees have been out of the ground for a week or two, owing 
to some accident, aud if the roots are consequently in a dry state, 
they should be steeped for two hours at least in rain or pond water. 
In light soil, and in dry weather in spring, it is usual to water the 
soil well about the roots before these are finally covered. This is 
done in order to close in the dry light soil about the roots. This 
watering below the surface layer of soil facilitates the emission 
of roots, and thereby irnures the starting of the tree. When a tree 
is planted in a hole, dug at least five or six days previouslv, it 
ought to be so placed as to have its upper roots about two inches 
above the level of the ground. The newly-stirred soil in the bottom 
of the hole will gradually settle, so that the upper roots will ulti- 
mately be as low as the surface of the soil. In planting the tree, it 
is improper to shake or lift it up, for thereby the roots may be 
imperceptibly broken or twisted. After planting it is advisable to 
lay a good thickness of light soil over the roots, in order to support 
the tree against the strong winter winds, and to protect the roots 
from severe frosts which may occur. After the tree has taken root, 
this extra layer of soil should he levelled off, in order that the solar 
rays may exert their beneficial influence on the soil in contact with 
the upper roots. Trees planted with these precautious succeed the 
best. 
Any cue may observe that fruit trees which emit ro ts from 
