72 FRUIT GARDEN COMPANION. 



more attention than is generally bestowed on the 

 subject. 



ART. 3. Preparing the Ground. 



The preparing of ground for the plantations of 

 fruit is so simple that it would appear to require lit- 

 tle comment at this place ; but as the subject is gen- 

 erally but little attended to, it will be proper to 

 throw out a few hints to the inexperienced planter. 



In the first place the ground should be well work- 

 ed a year or two previous to the planting, so that 

 the earth is well pulverized in order to cling to 

 the fibrous roots of the tree : for, if the soil is 

 rough, adhesive, and not mellow, the fine fibrous 

 roots cannot come into contact with the nutriment it 

 contains, and so soon as the hot weather sets in, the 

 earth dries, and finally the process of vegetation is 

 greatly retarded and in many cases the trees die. 

 Every attention should be paid to the cleansing of 

 the land of all kinds of perennial weeds, as the dock, 

 couch-grass and the like ; it should also be cleansed 

 of any stones or other unnecessary rubbish ; a quan- 

 tity of well rotted manure should be well worked 

 and mixed with the soil, and every thing done to put 

 the ground in the very best order one year previous 

 to making the plantation. 



ART. 4. On Planting Fruit Trees. 



Before I speak of the practice of planting, I 

 shall make a few cursory remarks. The planting of 

 fruit trees being for no other purpose than utility, it 

 is necessary that every precaution should be used 



