112 ORCHARDS. 



The moss, vegetating on shrubs, &c., is of various kinds, 

 according; to the nature and situation of the soih If the 

 young branches of trees are covered with long and shaggy 

 moss, they will speedily perish; and can only be preserved 

 by cutting them off at the trunk ; or, by lopping the head of 

 the shrub or tree if it be found necessary ; as it will sprout 

 out again with increased luxuriance. In thick plantations, 

 however, and in cold ground, the trees will always be covered 

 with moss : in such cases they must be thinned, and the land 

 drained or deeply stirred. 



When shrubs, fruit trees, &c., are covered with moss, in 

 consequence of the soil being too dr?/, it will be useful to 

 spread large quantities of river or pond-mud about the roots, 

 and to open the ground for the admission of the manure : 

 such expedient will not only cool the land, and greatl}' sup- 

 press the future growth of moss, but at the same time prevent 

 the fruit from falling off too early, ... a circumstance that 

 frequently happens in orchards in very dry soils. Mr. F., 

 advises moss to be carefully removed in the months of Febru- 

 ary or March; after which the scraped trees must be washed 

 with a mixture of fresh cow-dung, urine, and soapsuds. If 

 this operation be repeated in Autumn, when the trees are des- 

 titute of leaves, it will not only prevent the production of 

 moss, but it will destroy the eggs of numerous insects, that 

 would otherwise be hatched ; while it contributes essentially 

 to promote vegetation. But, though moss be in general de- 

 structive to the vegetation of shrubs and trees, yet, if grow- 

 ing only on the north side of their trunks, it may be of con- 

 siderable advantage in cold climates as a shelter to screen 

 them from the severity of the north winds. Or, in very hot 

 climates, if allowed to grow on the south side of trees and 

 shrubs, it would probably be a protection against the fiery 

 rays of the sun.* In the usually fine climate of Virginia, we 



*The growth of moss and diseases of the bark, may be caused, or 

 promoted in transplanting, by setting large scions to a different point of 

 the compass from that to which it was grown whilst in the nursery ; 

 which practice renders necessary a constitutional change in the texture 

 of the young plant, not only of the bark and wood, but of the roots, to 

 accommodate itself to its new position. 



