PLANTING FRUIT TREES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

PLANTING FRUIT TREES.

Fruit trees i-liou!<! be planted in ticy garden, for in addition to being iutercetiug, home-grown fruit is always highly appreciated. An open position protected from high wind-; i> tile most desirable. Tlie position should be well drained, ami if the .oil is on the heavy side all the better. Most soils will grow fruit, but tiio heavy soils with the addition of manure give tlio best result-.;. Light (-oils are inclined to tend to encourage excess of growth. The (-oil should lie deeply worked ami ;:s il is not likely that the whole garden will lie trenched, the best way in to mark out ii space of three feet square where the tree is to be planted. I his square yard two or three s=pits deep, breaking

up tin' bottom. Nn manure need lie .uliliMt. but the addition of old lime rubble, some ground limestone, <>r some course bonedust will lie beneficial, The [ircsent is a good tim ■ to plant, but the mound should be ready some time before the trees are planted. If «udi are the circumstances that preparation and planting must be done soon after each other then the soil must be firmed by treading.. Before actually planting the trees, cut away any brokon or bruised' routs. This may look somewhat drastic, especially if the tree has been badly useii, but better to have only a few pood roots than a lot of bruised or broken

one* that will die back and arc often the cause of suckering. Spread out the roots ad naturally as possible and work some good, fine soil between the roots, making it firm by treading , . The finished surface should be a slight mound, but do not plant deep. "When finiehed the soil should be two or three inches above the old eoil mark usually visible on the stem of the tree. If the position is par-

ticularly damp plant very shallow, six inches to a foot deep, enough for the hole, and mound up the soil on to the roots. In such cases it is essential to stake the tree as its hold on tho toil in not very firm. In a year or so the roots will get a firm hold. This method is particularly useful with cifcnw trees, which are more often planted too deep

instead of too shallow. As to varieties this is quite a personal matter, but remember that it is not always advisable to select commercial varieties. Many of the best flavour sorts are not planted commercially, but arc splendid for the home orchard.