ees = 2A. er: 
5 las 
MARCH. 87 
After the ground is well drained, it shou'd be trenched to the depth 
of between two and three feet, if the soil is so far good. When the 
soil is well loosened to a considerable depth, the trees obtain a better 
supply of moisture in dry seasons than they do in shallow soils. The 
bottom of the trenches should either be made level from end to end, or 
form a regular slope towards a drain ; and the surface should have the 
same inclination as the bottom. Plenty of manure should be supplied 
as the trenching proceeds; and it had best be placed between one and 
two feet below the surface. If a compost of turfy loam and dung can be 
prepared for planting the tree amongst, it will ensure a growth in the 
first season. 
Autumn is the best season for planting. If moved before the leave 
have fallen, the shoots are apt to shrivel to some extent; but as soon 
as the greater portion of them has dropped, the operation should be no 
longer delayed, provided the soil is in working condition. 
Tke hole in which the tree is to be placed should be dug out so 
large that the roots when extended cannot reach the sides. Square 
holes are preferable to round. ‘They should be as wide at bottom as 
at top, unless the soil is very loose; and the bottom should be some- 
what higher in the middle than at the sides. This being the case, 
the tree when being planted, will be on a slight mound, on the surface 
of which the roots should be regularly extended ; none should be allowed 
tocross; for if they do they will squeeze each other when they grow 
large. When trees are carelessly planted, with perhaps most of the 
roots to one side, they are apt to be upset by heavy gales. Some 
tolerably fine rich compost should be spread over the fibres and care- 
fully introduced among them, shaking the tree a little; but it should 
not be pulled up to some extent and then pressed down, for by so doing 
the fibres are doubled. When the roots are well covered, a good 
watering may be given; and next day the holes may be filled in level. 
Grafting.—Grafts should be taken off before the sap is in active 
motion, in spring; in general any time in January and before the 
middle of February. They should be kept in the shade, with their 
lower ends in the soil, or in moist sand, till the grafting season in March. 
Stocks that are to be worked, or old trees that are to be regrafted, should 
be cut back not later than January. Indeed large limbs are best cut 
back in December, but not when they are in a frozen state; and then 
in February, before the scion is put on, a portion may be cut off about 
half an inch lower. ; 
The operation of grafting is easily performed. The mode of whip- 
grafting is the best. It is so called from the stock and scion being 
joined together like the splicing of the handle of a whip. There is how- 
ever this difference to be observed—in the whip, the outsides of two 
pieces are made to fit; but in grafting, the ener darks of the scion 
and stock should be placed against each other ; and if this is done as 
nicely as possible, the graft will be sure to take well, all other circum- 
stances being favourable. Now, unless the barks of the scion and 
stock are of equal thickness, which is rarely the case, the outer barks of 
scion and stock will never correspond, if the inner barks do so ; this, it 
must be repeated, they always should do, in order that the most perfect 
union may take place. 
