Management of Orchards. 21 



for the hoaltliy growth of fruit, yet the apple-tree does not flourish 

 on limestone formations : hence you seldom see any orchards in 

 the centre of England, on the oolitic and chalk formations ; and 

 where apples are grown on a limestone soil, the cider is pale in 

 colour and of inferior quality. 



A good depth of soil is of first importance : its texture should 

 be sufficiently tenacious to retain moisture, and not so stiff as to 

 prevent the free passage of water and air ; but where the ground is 

 very stiff, a judicious system of drainage will be valuable. The 

 alluvial deposits on the banks of rivers (where the stream is not 

 too rapid to« allow a due proportion of clay to be left) are often 

 very valuable for orchards, of which examples may be seen in the 

 vales of the rivers Severn, Wye, Lugg, and Froome. I know of 

 an instance or two in the parish of Westbury-upon-Severn where 

 COZ. and 101. have been made in one season by the sale of plums 

 grown on less than an acre of land of this description. 



For the counties of Worcester, Flereford, and Gloucester, a 

 southern aspect is the best ; for, amongst other reasons, it is very 

 important for the trees and fruit to get the full power of the 

 sun all day. The sweetness of the fruit is in a great measure 

 dependent upon its starch being changed into sugar, and the 

 influence of the sun in ripening the young wood must not be 

 overlooked. 



The next best aspect is the western, its chief disadvantage 

 being the strong winds prevalent in the autumn when the trees 

 are covered with fruit ; but if their force is broken by surrounding 

 hills, this aspect is nearly as good as the southern. 



In an eastern aspect the trees are more subject to blight, 

 which generally is accompanied by east winds. I know this to 

 be the case in my own neighbourhood, but I cannot account for 

 it unless the cold east winds check the healthy action of the 

 juices near the bark, and thus favour the production of the aphis, 

 which is the acknowledged blight. 



Frost seldom hurts the trees, unless it comes after rain when the 

 trees are in bloom ; the destruction of the wet blossoms is then 

 certain. Orchards planted on high ground suffer less, because 

 they dry faster than those on the lower lands, which are specially 

 subject to spring frosts. 



4. The After- Management, including Planting Out, Grafting, 

 Pruning, ^'c. 



Having fixed on a field for an orchard, either for making 

 cider or sales at market, and attended to the rules before- 

 mentioned with regard to draining, &.C., take a cross-staff and 

 set out in a field a large square, or rectangle, the sides being 

 divisible by the number of yards you intend to have between 

 your trees ; place a stake to mark the place of each tree in the 



