DECEMBER. 
261 
one of these points that is bruised or injured. If we could remove trees with 
every fibre entire they would scarcely show any signs of change of position. 
Though it may not be possible always to get every root entire, we may with 
care save the greater part of them. Trees should always be planted as soon 
after they are lifted out of the ground as possible. 
4th. Preparing the Soil. — The proper preparation of the soil is the 
groundwork of successful fruit-tree culture. Whether a transplanted tree shall 
struggle several years to recover, grow moderately after a short time, or at 
once start into vigorous growth, depends in no small degree upon the amount 
of care, labour, and expense the planter is willing to bestow on the soil in pre¬ 
paring it for the reception of the trees. As soils vary much not only in different 
parts of the country but often in the same localities, great practical knowledge 
is required to prepare every description of soil fit for fruit trees. Soils of a 
strong loamy nature are in general favourable for most kinds of fruit trees. On 
such soil, if the climate and situation be favourable, most kinds of fruits will 
succeed well with little or no expense for labour in preparing it. Sandy soils 
are easily worked, and fruit trees in some places do pretty well for a few years 
in such soil, but in general they are short-lived and soon fall into decay. 
When the subsoil is of such a nature that it can be deepened for the roots to 
penetrate, with a little labour it may be made to grow fruit trees well. Clayey 
soils are, when well-drained and the clay is not in excess, good fruit soils. They 
are usually strong and deep, and rather difficult and heavy to work. Fruit 
trees, such as the Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, and Apricot, that do well in 
these soils, are generally very free from disease and very productive. In days 
gone by, when the advantages of thorough drainage were not so well understood 
as they are now-a-days, fruit trees in clayey soils often suffered from canker 
brought on by the great quantity of water contained in the soil. Deep soils 
are not unfavourable to the growth of fruit trees if they are thoroughly drained, 
and the mechanical condition of the soil is such that the sun and air can freely 
penetrate it. It is only when from imperfect drainage they become full of water, 
and thereby shut out both sun and air, that they are unfavourable to the growth 
of fruit trees. All soils, of whatever nature, should be of good depth for fruit 
trees. In shallow soils, especially those which are sandy, fruit trees suffer much 
in hot weather from want of moisture, their vigour is checked in consequence, 
and they become feeble in growth and are comparatively short-lived or unpro¬ 
ductive. 
5th. The Situation eor Fruit Trees. —All deep valleys and low-lying 
places are the worst situations for fruit trees, as the cold air settles down in 
these places in calm frosty nights, and the buds and blossoms are frequently 
destroyed. Elevated ground, if not very exposed to cold sweeping winds, is in 
general the best situation for fruit trees. 
6th. Planting the Trees- —If the borders have been properly prepared, 
and if good trees have been carefully lifted, the operation of planting itself is 
a very simple one. A hole sufficiently large should be made, and the soil at 
the bottom should be left in a little hill for the roots to rest on, and not left in 
a hollow as is often done ; the roots will then extend in their natural position, 
not being forced to turn up at their ends. The roots should then be all carefully 
examined, and all the wounded parts neatly cut off. The soil should then be 
carefully put in, taking care to cover every fibre and to fill up all the spaces 
between the roots. This is a very necessary point to be attended to. When 
the soil has been put in to the depth of a few inches over the roots it should be 
trodden gently all over if it be dry, as the soil always should be in autumn or 
winter planting. Then complete the planting by filling up level with the sur¬ 
rounding soil. On heavy clay soils deep planting should be guarded against. 
