PLANTING. 93 



For reasons just mentioned ; viz. that it 

 is advisable to pit to the full depth of the 

 soil, and that it were better to trench the 

 whole ground over, this mode of preparation 

 is introduced ; although it must be allowed 

 not to be completely effectual, since the 

 plough reaches not the bottom, and that part 

 between the pits remains untouched. 



Yet this defect is more than counterba- 

 lanced by the improvement of the upper 

 soil ; nor is the process of ploughing ex- 

 pensive or tedious. Weeds, &c. are also 

 hereby effectually destroyed, and the soil 

 rendered more pervious to the action of the 

 elements. 



Moreover, when vegetables are intended 

 to be cultivated among the trees, a practice 

 extremely proper for a time, when it can be 

 done with advantage, the process of plough- 

 ing for the first crop at least, becomes ne- 

 cessary. 



In this case ; viz of ploughing and pitting, 

 it matters not much at what time the pit- 

 ting be performed ; provided it be done a 

 few weeks before planting, that the bottom 

 soil may be exposed to the weather, and 



