1854 . 
THE CULTIVATOR 
219 
Depth for Setting Trees. 
“ Will a tree do better to be set four or fire inches 
deep, in a tolerably rich loamy soil, than to to be set 
only two or three inches deep ? S. W. Cowles. 
Trees should be generally set the same depth that 
they previously stood in the soil, allowing an inch or 
two, more or less, for the settling of the newly stirred 
earth. On heavy soils, they will be more injured by 
being planted too deep, than on those of a light sandy 
or gravelly nature, and where greater depth is needed 
to prevent the effects of drouth. On lands inclining 
to be wet, setting trees upon the surface, and raising 
the earth upon the roots, is a mode that has some ad¬ 
vantages, among which are, the greater depth of soil 
thus made, and the prevention of water settling among 
the roots. The accompanying figure exhibits this 
mode of planting, the dotted line indicating the com¬ 
mon surface of the earth, on which the tree is set, and 
above this the low mound is raised upon the roots. 
Layering Carnations and Ficotees. 
The accompanying figure illustrates the ordinary 
and most successful method of increasing this lovely 
tribe of plants; for, if properly executed, success is 
pretty certain; whereas by “pipeings” or cuttings, it 
requires considerable care and attention to get them 
rooted. 
The operation is simple, and performed thus : Pre¬ 
pare as many small pegs as required, and a little good 
soil, if the soil they are already growing in is not so, 
and lay just around the stems of the plants. 
Take a sharp knife and trim off the leaves from the 
strongest shoots, to within a short distance of the top. 
Make an incision just below a joint, and halve the 
stem upward about ah inch. This forms what is called 
the tongue, from which the main part of the new roots 
are emitted. Draw away a little of the soil, and se¬ 
cure the shoots by means of the pegs, in an upright 
position, and cover over with the soil. In about six 
weeks the plants will be formed, when they should be 
cut from the parent, and carefully transplanted, or 
they may be left, if not over luxuriant, till the ensu¬ 
ing spring before removal. Just as the bloom is over, 
or about the middle of July, is the proper time to do 
it. In dry weather, they will require watering every 
evening till rooted. E. S 
Over-Manuring Trees. 
Please inform me if the Rhode Island Greening does 
well in a very rich soil. I have two trees of the above 
mentioned kind, standing in a yard formerly used for a 
pig-pen. Into this yard were hauled small stones, 
beach gravel and loam, and twenty-three years ago 
said trees were placed therein. Old bones and clam¬ 
shells have been thrown around them in abundance, 
and they have grown very rapidly, the circumference 
of the trunk being respectively as follows :—No. 1, 4 
ft. 2 in. No. 2, 4 ft. 
The trees blossom annually and seem to pride them¬ 
selves on a superabundant growth of wood, but, like 
the fig tree in the parable, they yield not fruit. What 
can the matter be? W. G Warren, R. I. 
We have heard of the unproductiveness of the 
Rhode Island Greening from over fertility of soil, 
when planted in some of the richest portions of the 
western country—at the east, the great difficulty with 
most trees is scant feeding and starvation. If our cor¬ 
respondent will seed with grass, and allow a thick 
turf to cover the surface for a rod or two in each di¬ 
rection round the trees, so as to check its growth, he 
may in a few years have a good crop, provided too 
high manuring is the cause of the dropping of the 
young fruit, which appear probable. 
Rotation of Crops. 
Will you please give me a good system of rotation 
of crops, through the Cultivator? A Subscriber. El¬ 
liott, Maine. 
Systems of rotation must vary according to the na¬ 
ture of the soil in different regions of country, the 
amount and kind of manure at command, the cleanness 
of the land, the nature of the market, and the proper 
distribution of labor. One of the best farmers we have 
known, had his farm laid out in equal fields, and 
adopted the following rotation : 
1st year—Wheat after clover. 
2d “ Corn, potatoes and ruta bagas, with all 
the manure made that year. 
3d “ Barley. 
4th “ Wheat, seeded with clover. 
5th “ Clover, pastured. * 
A piece of low ground was kept for meadow, and 
was occasionally top-dressed, and rarely broken up 
and re -seeded. A rougher portion of the farm was 
occupied with summer-fallow, wheat, clover, and grass 
for pasture. This farm was a strong fertile soil;— 
poorer land would need a longer season in grass, which 
would admit a larger number of live stock, and as a 
consequence produce a greater amount of manure. 
The following may be adopted,'with variations ac¬ 
cording to circumstances: 
THREE-COURSE SYSTEM. 
1. Corn and roots, well manured. 
2. Wheat. 
3. Clover—one or more years, according to fertility 
and amount of manure at hand. 
FOUR-COURSE SYSTEM. 
1. Corn and roots, with all the manure. 
2. Barley, or peas, or both. 
3. Wheat. 
4. Clover—one or more years. 
Oats are always a severe crop, and an excellent far¬ 
mer of our acquaintance who adopts the above, never 
permits oats to grow on good wheat land, but confines 
the crop to the more moist portions of his farm, adapt¬ 
ed only to this and to meadow and pasture. 
