216 On Orchards. 



the surface mould. This accounts for many of my 

 trees, especially the largest, dwindling at first, and be- 

 ing now in remarkable vigour. They wanted healthy 

 and genial supplies, till the upper roots shot forth in 

 the surface mould, and near the sun and air. My old 

 gardener, who never liked my scheme, thinks these 

 lower roots ''^gifft ziehers ;'''* that is, '''■poison suckers^ 

 On perusing '"'' BucknaVs orchardisf I find he is an ene- 

 my to deep planting; and recommends top dressing, 

 and loosening the soil for young trees; and says that 

 planting potatoes^ in young orchards, for hogs to root 

 out, is highly beneficial. He asserts, that " whenever the 

 " roots penetrate into the under strata^ and are still tend- 

 " ing downwards, they are apt to draw a crude indi- 

 " gestible fluid, which the organs of the more delicate 

 " fruit bearing trees are incapable of converting into 

 " such balsamic juices as to produce fine fruit." It seems 

 therefore, that placing the roots purposely, where he 

 points out the injury of their arriving accidentally, is 

 palpably improper. He goes so far as to advise those, 

 who will plant trees in unkindly soils, to raise mounds 

 of good earth above the surface, for them to grow in. 

 His mode of root pruning^ and his practice of pruning 

 orchards, ought to be generally known. We always 

 cut off the tap root; but I believe few, if any, of us 

 prune the roots afterwards. He directs the superfluous 

 l:)ranches to be cut close., and the part brushed over with 

 tar, and a small mixture of sublimate, or even verdi- 

 grease, to destroy or keep off" insects, with a little whit- 

 ing or chalk, to give it consistency. The bark soon 

 grows over the wound ; but whei'e projections, or snags, 

 are left, it never does. His directions ^ire so much es- 



