260 
THR FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
fitable, that whenever its use cannot be avoided, a heavy outlay for the purpose 
of applying material to secure openness of texture will not only be justifiable but 
the most economical method in the end. In light soil, easily worked, and easily 
permeated by the roots, there will always be a much more numerous formation 
of fibres than in heavy land, and as it is on the careful preservation of these 
that a great part of the success in transplanting will depend, it is obvious that 
any state or condition of soil, which renders such care more than usually 
difficult, is not exactly that condition which one would choose where success 
would be expected to be a certainty. For these reasons I advocate the use of 
light soil in the preparation of the trees, and to carefully clear it all away from 
the roots before attempting to move the tree at all, which can easily be done by 
taking plenty of room and undermining the roots so that the soil may fall 
through rather than be hocked out from the top. 
Great care must be observed to preserve the roots moist so as to retain their 
vitality, as it is very injurious to them to be dried up when the distance to 
which they have to be removed is trifling. The operation of lifting may in 
most cases be performed with sufficient celerity to prevent the necessity for 
adopting any particular means for keeping them moist, but where they have to 
be transmitted to long distances, it is absolutely necessary to cover them with 
some material capable of retaining moisture, and at the same time so soft as not 
to injure the roots; for this purpose there is nothing better than the use of an 
abundance of wet moss, and to envelope the whole in matting. It must be 
observed that all this extra care and attention necessarily implies a consider¬ 
able outlay both of time and money, but for all that, I am decidedly of opinion 
that it is the most economical in the end. If the nearest way of arriving at the 
desired end is required to be taken through a niggardly principle of economy, 
it is probable that the operator, although knowing better, will be compelled 
thereby to follow in the old beaten track, and lift the tree out of the ground 
by spade leverage, and plant in the usual manner, taking the chances of life 
and death, and in most cases involving the necessity for a severe cutting-in, so 
that a year or two are lost in the -work of bringing the tree into that state in 
■which it would have been at once under a more liberal system of management; 
for by using the extra care which I have recommended, the trees may be so 
lifted and replanted as not only not to suffer from being moved but to be 
positively benefited thereby, because they will receive just that amount of check 
to the growth which will contribute to the formation of fruitful wood, and 
the trees will be early brought into a bearing state. 
In planting remember that the action of the sun upon the soil has a great 
influence upon the roots, and, therefore, great care must be used to plant at such 
a depth that they shall not be far removed from its influence ; deep planting is a 
serious evil, and must always be avoided. No particular rule can be laid down 
for this depth, because the roots will vary in formation and number, and the soil 
must be removed to a depth in accordance thereto ; but a general rule may be 
laid down that the collar, or that part of the stem from which the roots radiate, 
should not be below the surface—in fact, in planting, it is better to place it 
considerably above the surface level, both to allow for sinking, and also that 
the tree may eventually stand on a gently sloping mound. Care must be 
taken to select the finest portion of the compost and work it carefully amongst 
the roots and fibres, which must be spread out so as to radiate equally in all 
directions. Do not by any means adopt the plan of holding the tree partly out 
of the soil, and after giving it a good shaking plump it down again, this often 
dislocates many of the fibres by doubling them up ; if the soil is fine enough, 
and put in in small portions at a time, there will be no difficulty in covering 
the roots properly without this barbarous practice of shaking. Lastly, take 
