yb ORCHARDS. 



give up its moisture. We would not advise turning the surface 

 soil so very deep all at once, {unless the land is intended for 

 an orchard). Six inches would do no harm ; but the ground 

 below should be mellowed with a subsoil plough. This is an 

 instrument that runs along in the ground like a mole, in the 

 bottom of a furrow made by the common plough, raising and 

 pulverizing the earth, breaking up the compact, cold and 

 water-proof under-stratum of heavy soil, allowing it to fall 

 back in its former place and leaving the thin layer of vege- 

 table mold on top where nature placed it. A tolerable good 

 substitute for the subsoil plough is a narrow, sharp shovel- 

 plough, with a long shank, that would follow in the bottom of 

 the other furrow without throwing the dirt out. (A new- 

 ground coulter is also a good substitute for the subsoil plough.) 

 The most convenient and expeditious way to subsoil, is to 

 have one team attached to the common plough, and with an- 

 other to follow immediately behind with the subsoil plough in 

 every furrow ; although one team might do the work by 

 changing ploughs every round. 



The effects of all ploughing, whether deep or shallow, is to 

 admit air, and consequently moisture, to the soil, and to allow 

 the roots to travel to a greater depth into the loosened par- 

 ticles in search of food. The subsoil often contains matters 

 which are deficient in the surface soil. By deep ploughing 

 these are rendered available, and we admit an increased sup- 

 ply of atmospheric fertilizers. 



PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES. 



Pruning in gardening and the culture of trees, denotes the 

 lopping off exuberant or diseased branches, with a view to 

 render trees more healthful and fruitful ; to make them grow 

 higher, and with greater regularity ; to produce larger and 

 better tasted fruit, and to give them a more handsome and 

 regular appearance. 



Fruit trees in this country are generally grown as standards, 

 especially apple trees. In this way they require less care, 

 are better able to develop their natural forms, attain the most 

 rapid growth, and largest size, and bear the greatest quantity 



