-” Tn Prantine, the trees should not be set into the cold and
barren sub-soil, but if the surface soil be too shallow to receive
the roots, it is better to throw the earth up around the tree so as
to cover the roots to the proper depth and keep them in the mel-
low and fertile soil. Trees have been planted where the surface
soil is thin, by spreading out the roots on the surface of the
ground and covering them with earth, and they lived and grew
well, whereas, if they had been planted in holes dug in the ordi-
nary way they would never have been worth anything. It is a
common error to plant trees too deep. They should not be set
‘so as to stand any deeper after the ground has become settled
than they stood in the nursery. The holes should be dug large
enough in diameter to admit of the roots being spread out in
their natural position, not coiled up or turned up at the ends,
and the soil in the bottom of the hole should be loosened up and
made crowning in the centre; upon this the tree should be set,
and the roots spread out in a natural way. The rich and thor-
oughly pulverized surface soil should be carefully filled in, and
worked with the fingers among the roots, and pressed down
gently with the foot. When all is complete the surface should be
left Ioose and friable, not trodden hard, as is often done, and
should be made nearly level with the surrounding soil, if the
planting be done in the spring ;}but if it be done in the fall, make
mound of earth over the roots and around the stem of the tree,
as already recommended. In settling the earth about the roots


26 TRANSPLANTING.
