ORCHARDS. 65 



"bear a wet foot." Most situations, however, in tlie high- 

 lands, that would be preferred for orchards, have natural 

 drainage sufficient for every purpose. Even some of those 

 plants which are considered aquatics, appear to thrive better, 

 when the redundance of wetness is in some measure alleviated 

 by drainage. As a general rule, if the soil be retentive, or 

 wet, it would be best to practice thorough drainage, by a 

 system of under-drains. It is not deemed necessary in this 

 work to describe the process of underdraining, or to expatiate 

 on its merits and advantages, as every farmer knows, or has 

 the means of knowing, whatever is practicable or profitable 

 about it. 



Large quantities of barnyard manure are not recommended 

 in setting out young trees, or in orchard culture; although, if 

 well rotted and in moderate quantities, its effects on the growth 

 of young trees is very obvious. Ashes, lime, plaster, char- 

 coal, bone dust, muck, and, better than all, sods and soil from 

 fence-sides and corners, road-sides and forest, constitute the 

 proper food for the apple orchard; but lime should not be 

 used among young trees, unless in such quantities as farmers 

 usually spread on their cereal^crops, and if so used, its appli- 

 cation is exceedingly proper, especially on clayey soils. 



Downing, in his magnificent and elaborate work on " The 

 Fruits and Fruit Trees of America,'' says, in regard to pre- 

 paring the places, " Here is the fatal stumbling-block of all 

 novices and ignorant persons in transplanting. An English 

 gardener when he is about to plant fruit trees, talks about 

 prejjaring his borders; an American says he will dig his holes; 

 and we cannot give a more forcible illustration of the ideas of 

 the two persons as to the wants of a fruit tree, or a better 

 notion of the comparative provision made to supply these 

 wants, than by contrasting the two phrases themselves. The 

 one looks upon a tree as a living being, whose life is to be 

 rendered long, vigorous and fruitful by a good supply of food, 

 and a soil mellow and easily penetrated by the smallest fibre ; 

 the other considers it very much in the light of a truncheon, 

 or a post, which he thrusts into the smallest possible hole, and 

 supplies with the least portion of manure, trusting to what 

 6 



