THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



227 



fest by the unhealthy appiaraiice of the trees. Subsoils 

 of this character may be improved by deep drainage, 

 but they will still retain that peculiarly sour nature 

 which is 80 repulsive to vegetation. 



The climate also admits of considerable latitude as 

 regards the growth of apples, but the quality varies very 

 materially. The Kentish apples are very different from 

 the West-country fruit of Hereford, Devon, and So- 

 merset. The moist climate of ihe latter encourages a 

 very juicy fruit well suited for the manufacture of 

 cider, but the apples grown in the drier climate of the 

 East of England are remarkable for being dry and full- 

 flavoured, superior for a table fruit, but of far less value 

 for cider. We also have many gradations between the 

 two, but it is clear that the fall of rain and the moisture 

 of the air modify the quality and uses of the apples of 

 the district. The highly-developed flavour of some of 

 the American apples which are produced in hot and dry 

 districts still more forcibly illustrates the effect of 

 climate. 



This influence of climate is by no means reserved to 

 the question of quality, but extends also to the quant Ity 

 of the produce. In this respect a dry climate in spring 

 or early summer has many advantages. This will at 

 once be evident to any person who has compared the 

 orchards of the East of England with thoseof the West. 

 In the former districts, when the blossom is produced, 

 their prospect of a crop is i^eri/ much greater than in 

 the moister climate of the West. Here we often have a 

 beautiful promise, but no fruit ; and this is compara- 

 tively rare in the East of England. This is mainly 

 referable to the greater influence which frost has upon 

 the blossom or the bud when it is moist ; and thus the 

 humidity of our western climate renders it exceedingly 

 general. The bud will stand a " black'' frost far more 

 safely than a " white" frost. 



The aspect of the land has influence on its climate, as 

 rendering it more exposed to the cold winds, which 

 often render white frost partial. Many a spot sheltered 

 from the current of the wind escapes the "hoar" frost, 

 whilst it is general along its course. The natural for- 

 mation of the district has its influence also, for if the 

 prevailing winds are along the course of the valleys, and 

 these gradually narrow, the volume of the air becomes 

 more and more confined as it proceeds, until its influ- 

 ence is really very destructive both to the blossom and 

 the trees. Orchards thus situated have far more dam- 

 age done to them than others apparently more exposed 

 on open plains. The intensity of the winds in these 

 gradually-contracting valleys is a source of great loss in 

 orchards. 



The altitude varies in its influence according to other 

 conditions of climate. In the East of England, it would 

 generally be prejudicial to the quality of the fruit, as the 

 loss of heat would be detected in an apple deficient in 

 flavour. On the other hand, in the West, we find the 

 higher* orchards are often more productive than those 

 below, in consequence of greater freedom from the 



* I do not here iaclude very elevated ground, where, of 

 course, the opposite is the case, but I speak of hilla of from 

 four to five hundred feet high. 



' ' hoar" frost. In the valleys the moisture is always 

 greatest ; and here the fogs lie, and hence there is 

 frequently on the low lands a white frost when it is a 

 black frost higher uji the hill. 



For these reasons, I consider that a calcareous loamy 

 soil upon a dry subsoil is the best for an orchard ; that 

 the latter is more important than the former ; and that, 

 in selecting a soil for planting in the West of England, 

 we must give the preference to a south-eastern aspect, 

 avoiding alike the damp of the valleys and the violence 

 of the wind which sometimes gather within them. 



The first step in the preparation of the field for being 

 made into an orchard is to secure a free and deep drain- 

 age. Where this does not exist naturally, it must be 

 supplied artificially. The nature of the soil can alone 

 decide the distance and depth of the drains; it is suffi- 

 cient for me here to say that it must be done as effectu- 

 ally as possible. 



The field, if in good grass, may require little more to 

 be done to it except to secure a proper surface drainage ; 

 but should the laud be of an inferior character, it may 

 be desirable to break it, in which case I should adopt 

 this plan : Having marked upon the ground the lines in 

 whidi the trees are to be planted, let the plough com- 

 mence on this line ; and a furrow-slice being turned 

 over, let the ploughing proceed as if for gathering the 

 field into lands, in the centre of which the trees shall 

 stand. A second plough is to follow in the furrow of 

 the first, and throw up its mould over the last furrow- 

 slice. When the first plough returns for its second round, 

 there will be a trench ready to receive the turf about to 

 be ploughed; and, as ihe following plough completes the 

 work, we get the turf buried ten or twelve inches deep. 

 The work must, however, be done with a narrow furrow 

 throughout. Thus a deep soil is secured : the surface is 

 slightly rounded ; but if not sufficiently rounded, it 

 must be done by manual labour. 



If the soil is in an unhealthy state this should be done 

 in the autumn, as the frosts of winter will sweeten it 

 very much. As soon, therefore, as the work has pro- 

 ceeded thus far, the trees may be planted as hereafter 

 described, and the working of the land may be pro- 

 ceeded with. This will, of necessity, vary with the 

 description of soil, for whereas a good loam would need 

 little preparation, an adhesive clay must do so. It is far 

 from a sound policy ever to entertaia the belief that the 

 trees are to a great extent independent of the land be- 

 tween them, for if such laud is in good condition, the 

 roots will meet within a few years. It is, thei-efore, as 

 important for the early growth as it is for the maturity 

 and productiveness of the orchard, that the soil should 

 be got into a good condition. With the exceptions of 

 our best quality soils, the growth of corn between the 

 trees is objectionable, and for this purpose green crops 

 and grass are decidedly preferable, because they do not 

 impoverish the land of those materials which the apple 

 requires : turnips, vetches, trifolium, clovers, and grass 

 offer abundant choice, according to varying circum- 

 stances. 



The selection of fruit for an orchard is a point of con- 

 siderable importance, and local experience comes into re- 



