PLANTING. 
51 
consideration, and it is always worth while in planting apples, either 
in the garden or orchard, to give the trees the most favourable site 
that can be chosen for them. 
IV.—Method of Plajiting. 
Apples may be placed in the most favourite sites, planted at the 
right time and in the best soil, and may yet fail for lack of promptitude 
and skill in the act of planting. A tree out of the earth is like a fish 
out of water. Air is suffering, disease, and death to root and fish alike. 
But the root expresses no suffering, it can only dry and die. Hence 
it is often exposed for hours, while minutes are all too much for it. 
This arises from want of thought and due preparation. All borders 
should be made, holes dug out, stakes, ties, mulchings, &c., provided 
before any trees appear on the planting ground at all. If ordered from 
a nursery, special orders should be given concerning the covering and 
keeping moist of the roots on the journey. Excellent as are the packing 
arrangements in most nurseries, the roots not seldom get frozen or 
dried on the journey. When the trees arrive they should be immediately 
unpacked under cover or in a sheltered spot. Especially should these 
precautions be taken should the air be harsh, dry, or frosty. If the 
roots are found dry, they should at once be sprinkled, or plunged pto 
water. Each tree ought then to be carefully examined, bruised roots 
cut clean off back beyond the bruise, and strong ones also pruned in if 
needful. In all these processes every care must be taken to preserve the 
fibrous roots. If the ground is near, each tree should be planted as 
soon as examined and trimmed. Should the orchard or garden be a 
considerable distance off, the trees may be laid on hand carts or barrows^ 
and their roots protected from sun, wind and air on transit to their 
growing ground. 
The bottom of the holes for the trees should be made level, smooth, 
and somewhat hard. The roots are thus displayed horizontally, which 
gives them a fair start towards the best and most genial soil. An 
irregular or uneven soft base for the roots is apt to tempt them down¬ 
ward, and the pressure of the covering earth may readily rupture tender 
roots displayed on a rough uneven surface. 
It also greatly facilitates the planting if a stake proportioned in 
strength to the size of the tree is placed in the centre of each hole as 
soon as formed. The tree is then set down and looped on to the stake 
with a loose tie, which leaves both hands of the planter at liberty to 
attend to the regular and systematic display of the roots. It is asto- 
E 2 
