The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-11-23
Plant Fruit Trees.

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Piles, and luscious, mellow pears, TO say
nothing Of the stone fruits. The latter are
more safely planted in spring but do not
wait until spring 10 set out apple and pear
trees. Tho present is more leisure sea-
son, a better selection can usually be
made, and the tree is in its place and ready
to start into growth at the ordinary leafing
time in spring, 1t can also better with
stand the drought midsummer than when
planted in spring. Perhaps the only ex-
ception 10 successful fall planting are, first,
where the soil is wet and the contractions
and eX pansions of superabuifiant moisture
destroys the root fbres; and second, in the
case Of tender varieties which are liable to
winter.kill. A tender tree moved in late
fall cannot Withstand the extreme cold and
sudden changes of winter like one which
has been unm molested. On this account it is
usually advised to plant peach, nectarine,
apricot, and sometimes tender plum and
cherry trees, in spring. A few of the late
growing and tender sorts OF apple trees
may also be lett until spring in the north
ern states; but with the majority of lrees, ,and
especially in this latitude and southwark,
fall planting may well be commenced with
the fall of the leaf.
No universal "directioh for setting out
trees can be safely given AS general
thing, it is better to give a trees and plants
abundant depth; to preparl the soil under
them SO that they can send down roots
where moisture will always abound, no mat
ter how parched and dry surface SOIL
To secure this it is advised ito dig large
deep hole and fill with rig surface SOIL
With a single, but very ci imon exception,
this rule is good one. refer to those
localities where the subsoifi clay or hard
pan Of so compact texture as TO retain
waller. Even on these the large deep.hole
method is best, if proper drainage be pro.
vided but in most cases tree planters will
not take this trouble or expense. Ifon such
retentive soils the tree be planted in deep
mass OF rich earth, its roots will be invited
downwards, and they will literally stand in
basin of water. We advise, therefore,
that in planting trees, the soil in which
they stand be loosened and prepared only
the depth to which it may be kept free
from standing water. Ii thin surface soil
rests upon a retentve subsoil, break up the
latter as deeply as possible, by subsoiling
and loosen it where the tree is TO stand, but
little deeper than elsewhere. A deep, por-
Gus soil is always best for fruit trees, but
such soil cannot be fouud in every locali.
ty, and where no. found let it be initiated
by preparing the soil at hand as deeply as
may be. If ploughed nine or ten inches
deep, and subsoiled six or seven, it will
then be loosened fifteen or sixteen inches
deep, and the hole for theS e may be made
to that depth, filling it al, Is with surface
soil naturally rich, or mad 70 by the addi-
iion of rotten manure q puck, decayed
leaves, &c. We have thi eek examined
apple and pear trees fifty hundred years
and more old, which stoo Fer clay SUBJ
soil, but the roots were ed out in tho
surface soil thirty TO sixty in every di-
rection. Usually these 9Lkees are found
on limestone soils, loose and porous deep.
ly down, and they are most frequent upon
knobs, hilocks or slopes having dry deep
loamy or stony subsoil.
On wet soils good success has been al
tained by preparing the ground, setting the
tree directly upon the snrface--no hole be-
ing dug-and then placing soil around and
upon the roots, up TO the collar or point
where the soil reached in the original lotali.
ty. The tree then stands upon or in arlif-
cial hillock, and sends its roofs out into the
dry surface soil thus prepared. A general
rule may be stated thus: Plant the tree on
as deep soil as possible, but avoid putting
it where its roots will be far down IN bar.
rel subsoil beyond the reach of air and
warmth, surrounded with stagnant cold
water.
In transplanting all trees, they should
usually be planted only as deep al they
grew in their original positions. Heaping
! the earth around the trunk higher than this
often proves fatal. In planting in holes, lei
there be ample room for the roots to be
spread out naturally, and drop in the loose
soil around them, packing it down carefully.
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