4* OF THE FORMATION SECT. Ill, 



fains and fnows, and do much good. Or if an orchard 

 were ploughed, or rough dug, every year, immediately 

 after the faft of the leaf without manuring, it would be 

 very beneficial; for it is not ad v if cable- to give trees 

 much dunrr. 



The thinning of the branches of orchard trees, by 

 an occafional ufe of the Jaw, bill, chizzel, or knife, 

 fhould not be neglecled, that the air may have free 

 courfe, and the fun accefs among the branches: This 

 is more efpecially neceffary in thick planted orchards, 

 and the benefit of proper pruning is very great, though 

 it is much neglecled. See Pruning of Standards, Section 



XII. 



To fucceed well, apples and pears fhourd be planted 

 from thirty to forty feet a f under, and cherries and plums 

 from twenty to thirty, according to the richnefs of the 

 land. The walnut fhould be rather planted fingly;. but 

 if in a number together, ought to be forty feet afunder 

 ior fruity and thirty for timber. See Nurfery. Thefe 

 diflances appear great, but it is neceflary, as after a few 

 years clofer planting would be found evident. See 

 planting and pruning, Seel. 9, 12. 



If the intermediate ground is not cultivated, as before 

 recommended, lome fort of fruit (as cherry, plum, or 

 codling) or young furell trees may be planted, to be re- 

 moved in time ; or currants, goofeberries, ike. it may 

 be kept alfo in grafs, the trees t horned, and fmall cattle 

 •turned in; which grafs, as it comes early, will be found 

 particularly ufeful to thofe who have much lh>ck. On 

 this fubject, however, it may not be amifs to give the 

 inftruftions of one of our bed gardeners. 



It is an error (fays he) to let turf cover the fnrfacc 

 of the ground in an orchard. The trees fhould be at 

 fuch diitances, that a plough may go between them, 

 and in that cafe the trees thrive every way better ; 

 the breaking of the ground fei ves as manure without 

 its ranknefs, and the fun and air have free pajlage, 

 which is very eifential to the good tafte and. well ripen- 

 ing 



