1S5G. ''Terra Culture''— Prof. Comstoch. 45^ 



''Terra culture" directs to a uniform practice, and places nature 

 under the severest requisition to always make the most profitable 

 returns. 



It directs how the ground shall be prepared, how planted or sowed 

 without the least uncertainty. 



It directs the mode of every operation, it predicts beforehand with 

 accuracy and uniformity what will be the effects of a diflPerent culture, 

 and how defects are best remedied. For example, in planting a tree, 

 the question is asked, what is your rule. Practice replies with uni- 

 formity so far as putting the roots into the ground and not the top, 

 and that is about as far as uniformity goes. Some cultivators recom- 

 mend shallow-planting, others, deep, according to nature of soils, lo- 

 cation, &c. If the soil be good, plunge deep ; if poor, plant more shal- 

 low, being careful to manure well. 



If there is a tap-root, cut it off, and be sure you put a flat stone 

 under it to encourage the roots to spread, for if permitted to pene- 

 trate into the deep unhealthy clay, surcharged with pernicious salts 

 your tree will inevitably become diseased, and give rise to bitter rot 



in the fruit and many other maladies to the end of the chapter ! 



Again, some recommend root-pruning, as well as top-pruning to the 

 healthy growth of the trees ; others, you must prune neither root or 

 top. We once knew a Judge, of some eminence, who contended with 

 pertinacity, that nature did all things in perfection, and therefore 

 that neither sprouts or succors should be removed. For, said he if 

 the branch we lop off had been unnessary, nature would never have 

 sent it forth. A convenient and easy practice, certainly, and one to 

 which said judge rigidly conformed. 



Thus we see diverse practices prevail and are defended often by 

 reference to numerous facts, collected, of course, to suit the case, yet 

 all alike, perhaps, unsupported by reason and common sense. " Terra 

 culture," starting from a discovered principle, a fixed law, refers all 

 these operations to it. Telling you what you should or should not 

 do to a healthy or diseased plant, and in all your operations insist- 

 ing upon keeping in view this important law. The eaviler is often 

 disposed to say, "I have long known such to be correct or incorrect 

 practice, and I find all these matters fully discussed by various wri- 

 ters; I have long since adopted that course." " Well, that's nothing 

 now." "^I wonder if that's all the man has to say." "It's a grand 

 humbug." "Loudon upon such a page includes the same doctrine." 

 The page is cited, when, lo and behold, it amounts to the same old 



