506 
DWARF STANDARD PEAll-TREES. 
gome of th. mosl suitable manuring substances 
that can be applied. 
PLANTING. 
Thbkb is no period like the early part of 
tho autumn for planting hardy trees of all de- 
scriptions, and, therefore* fruit-trees among 
the number. The additional soil required in 
the preparation of the border is most conve- 
niently collected together in the summer season, 
because it is then most free from moisture, 
and therefore will better admit of removal 
without becoming soddened, or in any way 
consolidated ; the removal of soils in the 
winter, when they are usually charged with 
moisture, is far less desirable. The next best 
time to the summer, is when a hard frost pre- 
vails ; for then it can be moved pretty well 
without consolidation, and the action of frost, 
as well as of the sun, is favourable to its pul- 
verization. When brought together, it should 
be placed in a compact heap, and two or three 
times, during dry weather, turned over and 
thoroughly commingled. If the soil is pro- 
vided in the summer, as it best may be, then 
the most proper time for preparing the border 
is early in the autumn, before the seasonal 
rains, which, toward the end of autumn, usually 
saturate the soil ; and this being done, the 
plants can be put in without delay. 
The preparation of the border for planting 
consists in first attending to the drainage ; 
then placing a layer of coarse rubble of any 
kind, and finally adding the new soil, and com- 
pletely intermixing it among whatever pro- 
portion of the old soil may be retained. 
Neither while this is going on, nor yet subse- 
quently, ought the prepared soil to be trodden 
on ; for whatever partial compression it may 
receive, by this or any other means, will pre- 
vent it from settling in an even and regular 
manner, to the detriment of the roots of the 
planted trees. Another point that ought to 
be attended to is this : — the surface of the soil 
ought to be a foot, at least, above the general 
level ; in fact, the plants may be planted almost 
on the surface, and whatever covering the 
roots may require may be given in the appear- 
ance of a slight mound. In making up and 
levelling the ground, therefore, its settling 
must be allowed for, so that, when this takes 
place, the roots may not subside below the level 
more than is desirable ; for any soil added 
then to make the surface look level or pleasing 
to the eye, would go so far as its quantity, 
whatever that might be, in burying the roots 
beneath an undue amount of soil ; contrary to 
this, the roots ought to be encouraged and 
maintained near to the surface of the ground. 
This leads to the consideration of the proper 
position of the plants in the soil, which must 
be determined by the local circumstances. If 
the soil is of a wet, cold nature, they ought to 
be planted nearly or quite on the original sur- 
face, and have their roots covered, as already 
noticed ; but if the situation is such as to pre- 
clude the fear of injury from moisture, the 
usual plan, that of taking out a pit in the soil, 
for inserting the plant into, may be adopted. In 
either case,, the bottom on which the roots are 
placed must be so far consolidated, as to pre- 
vent any of them from taking a downward 
direction ; but it must also be arranged so as 
not to hold water ; the best plan is to form the 
hard mass beneath highest in the centre, and, 
directly under where the stem is to be placed, 
allowing it to slope away slightly all round ; 
no water can then be collected about the roots. 
In trenching the ground, or otherwise mix- 
ing and preparing it for the plants, the utmost 
precision, almost amounting to mathematical 
exactitude, ought to be observed as regards its 
consolidation ; it should be laid together lightly 
and evenly, and no parts should be consoli- 
dated by treading or trampling upon it when 
it is in course of preparation, nor at any sub- 
sequent period. One of the reasons why 
treading on the soil should be, as much as 
possible, avoided, is, that it causes the whole 
mass of earth to subside irregularly, and when 
the roots of the plants are properly laid out, 
and intermixed with this mass of earth, the 
irregular settling of it is injurious to the roots, 
causing them to be broken, or diverting them 
from the horizontal tendency which should be 
given to them at planting. Another reason is, 
that the particles of soil become too much 
compressed ; and especially if it is at all wet, 
they cohere to such an extent as to hinder the 
ingress of the atmosphere among them : this, 
in a general way, ought to be avoided, but 
most especially upon clay soils ; upon very 
light soils treading or consolidation is less 
hurtful, and, in some cases, if done evenly and 
regularly, it is actually beneficial. In making 
up the border, too, it is particularly desirable 
that it should be formed sufficiently high 
above the intended level, to allow for its 
settling down ; for if this precaution be not 
taken, the border, instead of being elevated 
above the surrounding level, as intended, may 
ultimately become depressed beneath it ; and 
any addition of soil afterwards to make good 
the deficiency is to be avoided, as having the 
effect of covering the roots to too great a 
depth, and, to a certain extent, assisting to 
exclude from them the action of the atmo- 
sphere. Two feet of soil, if light, may be 
expected to sink nearly or quite six inches ; 
or, if more solid and compact, it will subside 
proportionately. As a general rule, the sur- 
face of the bed where the trees are inserted 
ought to be at least a foot above the general 
level, gradually passing off into the ordinary 
