ARBORICULTURE. 375 



the trees are young and of a small size, however, the mechanical 

 effects of these weeds are extremely hurtful when they are 

 suffered to grow and mingle their shoots with the lower branches 

 of the young trees, by obstructing the free circulation of air, and 

 preventing the genial influence of the solar rays from reaching to 

 their tender shoots, and this is evident to common observation in 

 the decay or death of the branches subjected to contact with 

 them, and in the consequent unhealthy appearance of the leading 

 shoot of the tree. 



Hoeing the surface as often as may be required to prevent 

 perennial weeds from forming perfect leaves and new roots, and 

 annual ones from perfecting seeds, is all that is required. Two 

 seasons of strict adherence to this rule, even in the worst cases, 

 will render the labor or expense of future years comparatively 

 trifling, and the healthy progress of the trees will reward the care 

 and attention. 



On soils planted by the slit, or holing-in mode of planting, it is 

 essentially necessary to prevent the natural herbage of the soil 

 from mingling with the lateral branches of the "young tree. An 

 active workman with a steel mattock hoe will clean round the 

 plants on a large space of ground in a day. Summer is the best 

 season for the work, as the weeds are more effectually destroyed, 

 and the partial stirring of the soil about the roots of such plants 

 as require cleaning benefits their growth. 



Should the planting and culture now described have been 

 faithfully executed, there will be few failures. When these 

 happen, however, the vacancies must be filled up, at the proper 

 season, with stout plants, and the holes be properly prepared for 

 the reception of the roots. It is a good practice for the first 

 two or three years of a trenched plantation to take a crop of 

 potatoes, mangel wurzel, or carrots, according to circumstances. 

 The rule, which must be strictly adhered to in the introduction 

 of these crops, is, that no part of the foliage or tops of the green 

 crop touch or even approximate near to the young trees ; a rule 

 of practice which, if broken through, produces equal damage as 

 from a rampart crop of weeds to the plantation. 



