On Orchards. 213 



be invariably planted in the same kind of soil, in which 

 the plant, or seed, originally grew. I very early in life 

 disbelieved this, as I do now. That a fair trial might 

 be made, I sent to a Henry Maag, in the neck below 

 the city, who had a nursery on a stiff clay soil; mine 

 being light and loamy. He sent me, I think, fifty trees, 

 and at least half of them apparently worthless. The 

 roots were hacked and lacerated, and the stocks rigid 

 and mossy. Only the necessity of filling up my orchai'd, 

 and the desire to try the experiment, induced me to 

 plant them. . For the first year they retained their ap- 

 pearance ; and mine out grew them. But the second 

 season of growth surprised me. They took the start 

 of all the other trees, held their advantage, and I think 

 they are now the best trees in my orchard. Their kinds 

 are similar to those of the other trees. So that I con- 

 ceive Mr. Coxe need not fear bringing trees from a 

 clayey, stiff soil, to his well attended light ground. The 

 clay farmer, will be benefitted by getting his trees from 

 Mr. CoxCy as will also farmers and horticulturists on 

 every kind of soil; if he continues to prosecute his bold 

 and highly meritorious undertaking. The change of 

 locality will be as serviceable on similar soils, as the 

 changes from one to another, on soils differently com- 

 posed. I do not mean to say that changes are always 

 necessary. Or that certain species of trees and plants 

 do not generally thrive best, in soils wherein they arc 

 indigenous. That position would be against expe- 

 rience ; and as much too broad, as its direct reverse 

 would be too narrow. But trees or plants brought 

 from a worse to a better soil, always improve ; as they 

 do taken from a cold or inhospitable climate, and plant- 



