Ch.XXXL] ORCHARDS— SOIL AND SITUATION. 357 



to be a deep rich loam ; for on this the trees grow wilh the greatest 

 luxuriance, and produce the richest fruit; thougli some trees — the "stire" 

 and tlie " golden-pippin " in particular^form exceptions to this rule, 

 and flourish most in a hot and shallow soil on a lime or sandstone 

 bottom. The best sort of pear-trees also prefer the rich loam ; but inferior 

 sorts will even flourish where the soil will scarcely produce herbage. In 

 Cornwall, also, " where tlie earth does not exceed nine inches in depth, 

 with a subsoil of yellow still clay, whereon alders grow, and where horses 

 could hardly pass, apple-trees have been known to thrive, with very little 

 expense, infinitely better than on the adjoininir drier and better soil ; and it 

 is certain that lands not suitable to other ])roduce may be turned, with little 

 cost, to tiiriving orchards," Mr. Smith, indeed, who published a map of 

 the strata in England, states that all the best orchards are those planted 

 upon red marl, though it is a generally received opinion, more particularly 

 in Devonshire, that apples raised upon a clay soil make the best cider. 

 We agree, however, with Mr. Main, of Chelsea, " that a deep mellow loam 

 is most suitable for an orchard. It does not require to be richly manured, 

 provided it be fresh, unexhausted, and sufliciently dry. Whether the sub- 

 soil be gravel or stone, so as such beds lie not too near the surface, it will 

 be no detriment to the trees ; but if of a tenacious clay, which is retentive 

 of moisture, then draining must be resorted to, and be done effectually*." 

 The land is, indeed, generally left under pasture, without further care ; 

 though if occasionally dug round the trees without injuring the roots, and 

 a small quantity of good mould and cow-dung were applied, it would be 

 found to benefit the plantation. 



Regarding the depth of soil, it has been observed by Mr. Towers, 

 author of the " Domestic Gardener's Manual," that " eighteen inches of 

 pure maiden turfy loam, without one particle of animal manure, over a 

 .six-inch stratum of coarse stones, brick-bats, rocky fragments, or the like, 

 would prove a more fertile medium of growth for fruit-trees, and one more 

 infinitely conducive to the health of the plant, than double the depth of a 

 highly enriched garden soil." It is, indeed, a curious fact, that, in digging 

 up some ancient orchards, which are known to have been planted centuries 

 ago by the Monks, tiles and other fragments have been found in those spots 

 over which the stems of the trees grew. The evident intent of this was to 

 prevent them from striking downwards into an inferior soil ; for however 

 vigorously the plants may for a time flourish in a well prepared orchard, 

 yet it did not escape remark, that if the roots were suffered to push down 

 into bad ground, their growth was checked, and they became every year 

 less capable of producing the usual abundance or quality of fruit. Many 

 planters, indeed, still follow the plan of placing a flat stone under the stem, 

 for the purpose of forcing the roots to spread along the surface ; but we 

 believe it has but little effect, for if the soil be good, they will take that 

 direction naturally ; and if not, the stones will not prevent them. 



PLANTING. 



The distance at which the trees should be planted is an object of great 

 importance ; for, if the ground be equally well prepared throughout, the 

 roots push forward horizontally in every direction near to the surface, and 

 do not strike down unless forced, either by meeting impediments, or else by 

 the soil not affording them a sufficient degree of nourishment. They should 



* See his Treatise on Orchards round Farm-houses, in the Quart. Journ. of Agric, 

 N. S., vol. iv., p. 347. 



