708 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
Whatever system of planting may be adopted, the following 
particulars should always he carefully attended to : — 
Never plant deeper than the young trees were planted in nursery; 
too deep planting kills many trees. 
Never dig a deep hole where the land has an impervious subsoil ; 
it is simply making a basin to hold stagnant water, which sooner or 
later will kill the tree. 
Never place any manure round the roots when planting. If it is 
desirable to use any manure, mix it thoroughly with the soil before 
applying. . l . 
If the land has been properly prepared, and is m good order, there 
is no necessity to dig large holes; the holes should be just large enough 
to allow the roots to be well spread out. 
Always keep the centre of the hole rather higher than the sides, 
so that water may drain from and not towards the trunk of the tree. 
Place a little fine top soil over the roots, and press the roots 
firmly into it ; then fill up the hole carefully and firmly, and the tree 
is planted. 
Always plant yearling trees when obtainable. They bear the 
shock of transplanting better thau two-year-old trees, and they usually 
make stronger and more symmetrical trees. Carefully trim the roots 
before planting, and cut the top back hard when planted. If you do 
not cut back at planting, the result will be a badly grown, straggling 
tree that will make anything but a vigorous growth ; but by cutting 
back hard you will obtain a strong and vigorous growth, and that just 
where it is wanted — namely, the trunk and main branches — for unless 
you start your tree with a good foundation you will never build it up 
into a strong and well-grown tree. The height at which to head the 
tree should not exceed 2 feet in any case ; and where the climate is 
very hot and dry, 1 foot is better than 2, and this has been amply 
proved by Californian experience. 
Do not plant your trees too close together. Twenty feet apart is 
the least that should be allowed for any fruit ; and many varieties are 
much better at 25 or even 30 feet apart. Though the returns are not 
so large at first as when the trees are planted closer together, the 
orchard will last longer and pay better in the end, in addition to which 
it is much easier cultivated, as there should always be ample room for 
the use of horse-power in orchards both for cultivating the ground, 
spraying the trees, and gathering the crop. 
AVhat to plant in an orchard depends entirely upon the climate; 
and, as previously stated, nothing should be planted that will not grow 
to the greatest perfection ; and not only this, hut no fruit, except it is 
of especial merit, should be grown. All inferior fruit should be set 
aside, and only a few varieties — and these the very best— should he 
planted, as one of the greatest mistakes made by our fruit-growers 
is the planting of far too many varieties, many of 'which are practically 
valueless. The insane habit of crowding every variety of fruit that 
can be obtained into one orchard, which is so frequently met with, 
cannot be too strongly condemned, as it is to this cause more than any 
other that the large amount of worthless and inferior fruit which 13 
flooding our markets and injuring our fruit trade is due. 
