March.] THE FRUIT-GARDEN. 221 
Planting Fruit Trees. 
Fruit trees, of all kinds, may De planted any time this month, 
when the weather is open, with success, but the sooner in the 
month the better, before they begin to shoot; they will now take 
root in a short time; and, with the assistance of a little water in dry- 
weather, will grow freely 
Let every kind be planted at proper distances, both for espaliers 
and walls, and also in standards, that they may have room to grow- 
without interfering with each other in the course of a few years; 
which is often the case in many gardens, more particularly with 
wall trees and espaliers. 
Peaches, nectarines, and apricots, should never be planted nearer 
than fifteen feet asunder, against walls or espaliers; nor need they 
be planted more than eighteen or twenty feet distant. 
Apples and pears for walls and espaliers, should be planted fif- 
teen, to eighteen or twenty feet asunder; but, in some cases, 
twenty-five feet is a more eligible distance, especially for some sorts 
of free-shooting pears; though it appears considerable at first, yet 
if grafted. &c. upon free stocks, they will readily fill that space, 
and bear considerably better, than if confined, so as to require to be 
often shortened to continue them within bounds; however, gene- 
rally allow those on dwarf stocks not less than fifteen feet, the others 
eighteen or twenty feet distance. 
Plums and cherries, designed for walls and espaliers, should be 
planted from fifteen, to eighteen or twenty feet distance. 
The above distances, advised in planting the different sorts of 
wall and espalier trees, appear great, when the trees are first plant- 
ed; but, in a few years, the advantage of allowing them proper 
room will be manifest; and it should be observed to allow trees 
planted against low walls a greater distance, than for higher, in or- 
der that, in default of height, there may be proper scope to extend 
them horizontally. 
For the particular soil and situation proper for the different kinds, 
see the Fruit-Garden in October and JVov ember; and also the 
Orchard^ in this month. 
Having the ground previously well prepared, open a ivide hole 
for every tree, about a spade deep, or according to the size of the 
root and loosen the bottom well. Then prune the roots of the tree; 
that is, cut off bruised or broken parts, and trim the ends a little 
of all the very long straggling roots in general, prune out irregular 
shoots of the head, then place the tree in the hole; break the earth 
well, and throw it in equally about the roots, and when all is in, tread 
the surface gently around the tree. 
New planted fruit-trees, should be well secured from the violence 
of the wind; if ihey are all standards, in exposed situations, let them 
be supported with stakes; and if wall-trees, &c. with largish heads, 
planted against walls and espaliers, fasten their main branches 
thereto. 
