1 Ocr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 318 
Take especial care not to plant the tree too deep, as too deep planting is 
very often the cause of orchards failing. More fruit trees are ruined by too 
deep planting than by any other cause. The right depth at which to plant the 
tree is as nearly as possible the same depth at which it stood when in the 
nursery. If the land has been well worked, there is no necessity to dig large 
or deep holes; in fact, if the soil is at all tenacious, no greater mistake can be 
made than to dig the holes deeper than the surrounding soil has been worked, as, 
by doing so, you simply create a basin to hold stagnant water right under the 
centre of your tree. In digging the holes, keep the top soil separate from the 
subsoil, and see that the centre of the hole is kept rather higher than the sides, 
so that when the tree is planted the ‘drainage will run from and not towards 
the trunk. Spread the roots out well and evenly, it being a good plan to set 
the tree in such a manner that the strongest root is on the side from which the 
heaviest winds may be expected, as this will tend to brace the tree against such 
winds. Place alittle fine soil round the roots, taking care that every root 
comes into direct contact with the soil, and that they are not massed together ; 
also see that there is no space between them and the soil, as in this case the 
tree is apt to dry out, whereas when fine soil is placed firmly round the roots, 
there is no fear of this taking place. Don’t trample the ground too tightly, 
especially if it is at all wet or heavy, as by doing so you will sour and harden 
it, but give it enough pressure to firm the roots properly. Tf the land is very 
dry, a bucket of water may be given to each tree now, and as soon as this has 
soaked in, the hole may be filled up; this is better than watering from the top 
after the hole has been completed, as the water lasts longer and there is no 
fear of the surface caking. Don’t place any stable or farmyard manure in the 
pottom of the hole, but if it is desirable to manure the tree at the time of 
‘planting, then a couple of shovelsful of well-rotted manure, or 2 or 3 lb. of 
boiling-down refuse, can be well mixed with the soil that the treeis planted in. 
Fresh stable or farmyard manure should not be used, but can be applied with 
advantage, as a mulch to the tree when planted. 
The following illustrations, which I reproduce from an article of mine 
written for the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, show (Hig. 1) a tree 
properly planted, and (Mig. 2) a tree improperly planted :— 
Fic. 1. 
In order to plant the tree exactly in the same spot that the stake that was 
used for marking out the ground occupied, the following simple device will be 
found very handy: Take a piece of wood 4 to 5 feet long by 4 to 6 inches 
wide by i inch thick, bore a hole $-inch in diameter about 2 inches from 
each end, and midway between these two holes saw out a broad V, as shown in 
the accompanying illustration (Fig. 8). Get two round pegs of wood of such size 
