Fruit-Tree Planting

Southland Times, Issue 19553, 6 May 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

Fruit-Tree Planting

Tho season for planting fruit trees is coming round, and a few leading points on tho subject may (says an Australian contemporary) bo usefully given for tho guidance Of beginners, for investigations relative to the die-back disease made it very evident that many people who go in for planting fruit trees still do the work very badly. There are many ways of opening tho ground for treo-planting. but only one of them is right. Ono wrong way is to dig a deep hole, drop the young tree into it, tho root turned up or down, as they happen to full, shovel up tho soil, and tread the whole down firmly. The trees so planted do not thrive. The proper way Is to open out a shallow hole on well-prepared and worked land, and of such diameter that tho roots, when spread out, will not touch the sides. Tho ground has, of course, been previously prepared by digging or ploughing, and, where necessary, suitable manure applied. It never suits to prepare fruit ground in a hurry. Ample time should bo allowed for the soil to settle. The condition of the roots of each individual young tree should be first ascertained. It is pro-(bab-le that during the process of raising, packing, and unpacking the young trees have sustained a certain amount of injury. A sharp knife will be needed, and each tree must ba carefully scrutinised. First, shorten all tap roots, and those whlfo point straight downwards. The cuts must bo made in a slanting direction upwards, and in no other way. Any root which is bruised, or torn, luiust be similarly dealt with, as canker is often started in a damaged tap root. In damp soils especially this preliminary trimming is very necessary, otherwise decay may start in tho injured spot, and, extending backwards, will enter the heart of the tree, and completely destroy It. Any tom or damaged fibre requires similar treatment, always taking care to shorten the roots to a perfectly sound portion. Actual planting requires tho employment of two, persons, one to hold the tree upright in the hole, the other to vqork the soil round the roots and tread down firmly. Having stood the tree upright, making sure that it is perpendicular, the roots should be spread out in' a circle, taking care that none are turned upwards. Fine soil should be gradually filled in, treading down firmly as tho work proceeds. Soil from the upper stratum should always be used for surrounding the delicate roots. Too often a careless, or inexperienced, planter will utilise subsffil which has been raised from the bottom of the hole. A careless operator, too, in a misdirected blow with the spade, wiil often bark tho tree, ahd even break oft a branch, thereby affording a foothold for canker or starting some other kind of trouble. Nurserymen even adopt further- precautions. 'They prepare some good compost to use in planting each tree,