220 
surface, and place the same compost amongst and upon the roots, keep¬ 
ing them straight and working the light earth amongst them with the 
hands. When the roots are thus covered, the tree seems to be standing 
upon a small mound—let the outer edges of this mound be raised a little 
so that it will form a kind of basin leading water to the roots of the tree— 
pour very slowly a pail of water into this basin, so that in settling it will 
wash the earth closely about the roots. This done, the tree should be 
well mulched by a covering of long stable manure, or half rotted straw, 
about its roots, of the depth of three or four inches, and covering a 
space equal at least to the size of the hole dug for the reception of the 
tree. It is now planted, and however dry the season will seldom need 
watering, provided the ground be kept free from weeds, grass, and small 
grain. 
Should any one be disposed to enquire “why the tree should be set 
upon the ground?” let him remember that it is the oxygen contained in 
the atmosphere which decomposes the inorganic elements, and reduces 
them to a condition to be absorbed by the roots—that this atmosphere 
can never reach the roots if they are covered to any great depth with 
earth—that he has placed underneath the tree a large quantity of loose 
earth, which, when settled, will allow the neck of the tree to be just 
about on a level with the natural surface of the ground, leaving the roots 
just deep enough to admit of the earth about them being kept light by 
the plow or the hoe. The mulching placed about them, whilst it prevents 
the too rapid escape of moisture, is constantly decaying and furnishing 
to the tree an additional supply of carbon to promote,its rapid growth, 
and is yet so light and porous as to exclude neither air nor water. Plum, 
and pear trees should be planted in the same manner as here recom¬ 
mended for apple trees, the former from fifteen to twenty, the latter from 
twenty five to thirty five feet apart. 
In the second place, we will consider the Culture from Planting to 
Fruiting : 
Taking into consideration the subject of pruning, this is a most im¬ 
portant division of horticulture—the most important era in the life of an 
orchard. It corresponds to childhood and youth in the human family— 
*tis the age at which the bent is given—the character formed for all its 
after life; and if left to itself the tree is just as certain to grow up rude 
