Cu Ith aticn of Grafs- LandPlanting Apple-Trees Crab-Jlocks. 5[)5 



begin to bear fruit, in the former cafethe flocks are grafted.* It is frequently the 

 cafe that too little attention is beftowed &quot; to leave the roots as long, and as little in 

 jured as poflible, and not to plant them deeper than they formerly grew. The 

 foil round each tree mould be dug eighteen inches deep, and four orfive feet wide, 

 placing the fod, if the ground be pafturc, in the bottom of the holes, as recom 

 mended by Mr. Marfhall. If The holes in this cafe be made fix months before the 

 time of planting, and if a fmall quantity of rich mould be mixed with that of the 

 field, immediately round the roots, it will much accelerate the future growth of 

 the trees ; but it will rarely beadvifable to make ufe of any very delicate or high 

 ly cultivated fruits when this method of planting is adopted. The branches of 

 the trees, whether grafted or not, and wherever planted, mould be much retrenched; 

 and the mould may be raifed a few inches round the ftems, to prevent their 

 being fhaken by the wind. A ftake to each will alfo be of much fervice ; but 

 great care muft be taken to prevent the bark of the tree receiving injury by being 

 rubbed. f&quot; 



There is another circumftance, efpecially where the land is fomewhat inclining 

 to moifture, that demands attention, which is that of not placing too deep. If 

 fo planted as to be capable of refitting the wind, they cannot be planted too near 

 the furface4 Much mifchief is frequently done by deep planting, as the 

 apple-tree is particularly liable to be deftroyed by the ftagnation of water about 

 its roots. 



* Mr. Billingfley give* the following directions for planting and grafting this fort of fruit: &quot; As fooii 

 as the ground for the orchard is ready, plant your trees (ftocks) and be particularly careful not to plant 

 them deep in the ground. After about four years, lop their heads, and graft them with the fruit you 

 mod efteem, taking care to adapt your grafts to the flock. In other words, let your grafts, and the tree* 

 on whofe heads you graft, be as fimilar in refpedt to luxuriancy as you can ; on this a great deal de 

 pends. It is found, that a luxuriant grofs-growing graft will never fucceed on a flow growing ftock, ati i 

 vice versa. It may alfo may be obferved, that fome excellent forts of fruit are naturally fo flow of growth 

 that a man, inftead of planting for himfelf, plants for his grandchildren ; and if you endeavour to force 

 them (which is often injudicioufly done) with luxuriant ftocks, you occafion difeafe. The tree never be 

 comes large or lading, and the fruit will be taftelefs and infipid.&quot; 



The ftocks whether apple or crab, are raifed by fowing the feed in drills in a good piece of ground 

 and keeping the plants clean. Some prefer the apple, others the crab flock ; the former comes into 

 bearing fooner, but is more liable to the difeafes of the mofs and canker, and much Icfs durable. 

 The grafts may be bell taken from neither too old or too young trees, but fuch as are healthy. 



i Knight on the Apple and Pear. J Herefordshire 4to Report. 



4G 2 



