ORCHARDS. 35 



comport is useful round newly planted trees, in stiff or 

 cold soils both lime, and fresh stable manure, I have 

 found prejudicial in the^ dry and hot weather of sum- 

 mer; the latter substance is also frequently a cover for 

 moles and field mice, which are extremely injurious in 

 winter, to trees of even six or eight years old in light 

 soils. I have found great benefit from the application of 

 every kind of manure on the surface, and mixing it 

 gradually by cultivation with the soil, as the best secu- 

 rity against drought in summer, and vermin in winter. 



The proper season for planting, will be found to 

 depend on a variety of circumstances in light soils, 

 the winter settles the earth round the roots, and best 

 secures them against the drought of the following sea- 

 son it is a time of leisure to the farmer, and affords 

 an early selection of trees from the nursery. In stiff 

 or wet soils, I should give a preference to spring plant- 

 ing, other circumstances being equal I have planted 

 at both seasons, and have generally found that care & 

 attention ensured a correspondent success in the growth 

 of my trees. In whatever season an orchard may be 

 planted, too much attention cannot be given to extend 

 the roots in every direction; to cut off all wounded 

 parts, and more especially, not to plant too deep; 

 this I believe is the common error of inexperienced 

 planters : as a general rule, I would recommend that 

 the tree be placed in the orchard with about thre& 



