10 THE ORCHARD AND FRUIT GARDEN. 



recommend paving-stones for the purpose. Ham down 

 the surface hard, and spread over it a covering of 

 riddled cinders, or gravel, and this paving will pretty 

 effectually keep the roots of the trees from straying 

 into the bad soil below. To make up for bad soil 

 removed, add to the best of the earth dug out whatever 

 the ground most requires, and let it be of the kind 

 fitted to the trees. A naturally dry, sandy soil will be 

 improved by a mixture of clayey loam, and a clay soil 

 will require sandy loam, or road-sweepings ; and the 

 parings of commons and the sides of roads and lanes 

 will improve it. 



In planting, take especial care to keep the collar of 

 the tree well above the surface of the ground. 



The manure given to enrich the spot should be of the 

 most lasting kind. Nothing is better for the purpose 

 than turf; and as its decaying vegetation is its manuring 

 principle, it may be taken from poor land : dry refuse 

 vegetable matter, such as bean and pea haulm, old 

 thatch or straw, will do, and if animal manure be used, 

 let it be fresh from the stable or cow-house ; but in- 

 troduce these fertilizers at some distance from the root, 

 using a single barrowful of mellow, rather rich soil, to 

 add to the earth in which to plant the tree. 



CHAPTER III. 



METHODS OP PROPAGATION AND IMPRO YEMENI 

 OF KINDS. 



THE mode of propagating fruit trees more practised than 

 any other is grafting or budding good kinds on young 

 stocks. 



The stocks, or young ungrafted wild trees, are trees 

 which have sprung from seed, suckers springing from, 

 the roots of old trees, layers or cuttings. The last two 

 are more difficult to obtain, but if taken from a tree 

 above the graft, their fruit will be of the cultivated 



