32 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



year the shortening in of each shoot of the young unripened 

 wood, which he^says will preserve trees of old &quot;worn out&quot; 

 varieties, as &quot; perfectly free from canker as those of any 

 new variety.&quot; 



An impenetrable bottom of stone, at not more than three 

 feet from the surface, is frequently made as a precaution 

 against canker. I have been told that in the ancient orchards 

 attached to monasteries, such a flagging of brick or stone is 

 often found under the whole area of the orchard. This 

 would seem at first sight to be directly opposed to the other 

 precaution, of thorough-draining and deepening the surface 

 soil ; but it may be considered that the injury which stagnant 

 water would effect is in a degree counteracted when the roots 

 do not descend below the influence of the atmosphere and the 

 heat of the sun. It is not unlikely that these influences would 

 extend to a depth of three feet from the surface, in a soil that 

 had been so thoroughly trenched and lightened up as it neces 

 sarily must be to allow of a paving to be made under it. 

 The paving does not probably much retard the natural 

 descent of water from the surface, nor does it interfere with 

 its capillary ascent ; the trenching makes the descent of super 

 abundant water from the surface more rapid, while the in 

 creased porosity of the trenched soil gives it increased power 

 of absorption, both from the subsoil and the atmosphere, as 

 well as of retention of a healthy supply of moisture. The 

 paving also prevents the roots from descending below where 

 this most favourable condition of the soil has been made to 

 exist. The effect would doubtless be greatly better if 

 thorough-draining were given in addition ; but so far as it goes, 

 the under-paving and trenching is calculated to effect the 

 same purpose as deep drainage : to secure a healthy supply 

 of heat, light, and moisture to all the roots. 



It is evident that the precautions and remedies which have 



