GENERAL PRACTICE. RENOVATING OLD ORCHARDS. 91 



the following summer, duly manured, or if the subsoil be indifferent, sow with rape and 

 eat it off with sheep. Plough and harrow the ground, having it in good tilth by October ; 

 then, or as soon after as it is safe to move the trees, plant, stake, mulch with manure 

 over a radius 3 feet from the stem all around, and point it in in the spring. Sow 

 down to grass in April, except a 6-fect circle for each tree, mow once, graze afterwards 

 with sheep, dressing the circles each autumn with manure, and the substances named 

 for fruit borders each year in February or as soon after as the ground is favourable, 

 unless the trees grow sufficiently. Artificial manure is needed yearly to sustain the 

 soil in fertility after the fruit trees come into bearing. 



Where the trees in orchards are for the most part sound, not exactly old, yet not 

 young, and have good stems, but the heads growing into each other, much may be effected 

 by a judicious thinning of the trees in the first place, and secondly of their heads. These 

 should be well thinned in the centre, allowing space between the principal branches for 

 the primer's body, cutting out all crossed branches and branchlets, removing all dead 

 wood, and leaving the most free in growth in all cases. Light and air will then be 

 admitted to the trees, and the sun's rays, passing between the branches, as they 

 should, will reach the soil. Ascertain the condition of the ground as to water ; if it 

 lodge within 3 feet of the surface, as explained under " Drainage," drain thoroughly. 

 Eemoving stagnant water and letting in sun raises the temperature of the soil consider- 

 ably. These matters attended to, the next consideration is the soil itself. The grass 

 is perhaps poor and mossy; break it up, after dressing with lime at the rate of 80 

 bushels to the acre, not disturbing the roots more than can be helped, but going as 

 deep everywhere as can be done without injury to the roots or cutting them with a 

 spade, turning the mossy sward under. Dress with lime when the work is done, at the 

 same rate as before mentioned, merely harrowing or pointing it in. "When the weather 

 is favourable put on a good dressing of manure, 12 to 20 tons to the acre, according to 

 circumstances, spreading it evenly, and let it lie till February ; then skim it under or 

 point it in. Before sowing down in April to grass dress with chemical manure, roll 

 the ground well down, and the grass and fruit will come as they have never done before. 

 There is, however, a condition or two that must be strictly kept, namely, the heads of 

 the trees must be kept open; corresponding amounts of phosphates, potash, soda, 

 magnesia, and iron, as previously advised, must be returned to the soil to make good 

 the amount of those substances abstracted by the grass and fruit. Farmyard manure 

 will afford the best results in grass, and supply humus for the fruit trees ; and mineral 



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