The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-02-10
From the Cotton Planter AMI Soil.
Transplanting Orchard and Fruit
Trees


is rapidly approaching, the following re-
marks on transplanting are the result Of
long practice. The ground for an orch =
ard should be deeply and tn oroughly sub
soilel and if convenient, lie manure or
compost applied broad cast aud incorpo.
rated with the soil during the process. -
This is n tedious business, and is seldom
done etfsctualy unless under the irnme.
diate supervision Of the person most in
terested, but when well done, is a relia.
ble foundation for future success. Before
planting, first square your land and drive
line OF stakes as base of OPERATIONS
plant the first tree on this line, fifteen
IRON this (Which is a good d stance for
peaches and 'iwarf pears,) plant another
tree, and SO continue until the first row is
full then return TO the base aud com
mence the second row 10y planting the
first tree Of the second row seven and a
halt feet from the base line OF stakes
the third row on the line again-and so
on throughout, or quinquuk it is also
desirable TO keep each variety AS compact
as pOssbIe-it is better sometimes that
one variety should occupy one end OF two
rows Tor convenience Of gathering. @ut,
TO return TO the planting The holes
must be dug large enough to admit Of
the roots being extended lateraIiv without
crowding, and no, deeper than when
growing in the nursery, for the ground
will settle somewhat, and planting SO
deep as to bury more than an inch Of
the collar, or part Of the stem whence
the roots are emitted, is prevalent ana
fatal error. The tree being placed in
proper position, dig from the sides of the
hole the full depth of the spade. well
puIverize the mould, and carefully fill up
all spaces between the roots TO ensure a
close contact between the soil and roofs.
This is best done with :he fingers or tho
gardner, when sufficient soil bias been dug
from the sides of the hole to plant the
tree. What was taken from the hole ilr
tue hrst instance, may now be thrown
back and finished, leaving basin like
cavity around each lree-the diameter of
which should not be less than six feet
TO be mulched as the spring advances
lhis plan OF planting the tree with mould
from the side OF the hole, ensures the
ground being broken up for larger
space than is usual around each tree, and
seems to convey TO The minds OF the ope
ratlves that the planting Of tree is
little different matter from setting a post
II is always more profitable TO plant Young
and moderately vigorous trees from a
nursery, than TO plant large specimens
from anv source. Yet the desire for i'm
mediate effect is so great ard will long
that few hints on this suhiec.
may not be amss Tor ornam entail pur
poses.
Large trees may be uansplauted with
only tolerable success directly from the
woods, IT care is taken TO open a trench,
say feet wide at such distance from tn.
tree AS will leave mass of roots uniniur
ed, proportlonate to the size of the plant
by digging this trench sufficiently deep,
the tree can be undermined and the soil
from among the roots carefully coaxed
out pattlng with the back Of the spade
on the upper surface Of the ball of earth
rendering it thereby portable. The main
consideration is to get as much root as
possible, not large, but small fibres, or
feeders, and to protect these from bruises
ard The action of the atmosphere, from
the commencement Of digging. This
matter canno, be too earnestly insisted
upon in this cIimate-perhaps the reason
why this idea has not been more promi
nent in books written on the subject is,
that the authors live in climates where il
always raiCs or threatens to do so. In
this sunny climate, the roots Of the tree
are not more out Of their element when
exposed, than fish out of water.
The tree being freed from the soil by
actual and clean cutting Of the roots, new
er making use Of the top as leverage, and
breaking the tree from the earth-the
next thing is to reduce the top. This
should be done by always cutting back to
leader or bud that will preserve the
original Of the tree or even improve upon
1.-TWO thirds Of the top should be cut
away, many Of the hmUs clean 10 the
stem-when removed TO The place Of
planting. carefully examine the bali Of
roofs, remove all exlrsneous mat;er-lhaL
is, roots OF other trees and shrubs that
are intermixed in the mass, and If left
would interfere with the proper planting
Of the trees -inas much rs they would
prevent close contact with the soil and
the roots proper. Again: The mutila.
ted roots should be re cut, with sharp
knife back TO sound wood, clean wound.
nature will at once go to work to callous
over, and from this callous new roots will
directly issue. IL from the size of the ball
and intricacy Of the roots 1t is found i'm
possible TO fill up sll vacancies with sol
then water should bs used 20 assist in
filling up these cavilies--but the surfacC
should be left with friable soil, and The
tree well secured with stakes, otherwis,
the working OF the tree with wind would
destroy contact with the soil and SO b'
fatal TO success. GEO KIDD.
! Rcssrt Co, Ala, Sept 1857.