*7 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



stubborn soil, 8. The respective sums have reference to apple trees planted 24 feet 

 apart = 75 per acre. 



If the land to be employed for an orchard be in "seeds " or clover ley, or following 

 a cereal crop, it should be well broken up and pulverised to an even depth. This may be 

 effected by trenching two spits deep where the soil is good to that depth, or by double 

 digging where the second spit of soil is much poorer and more stubborn than the top, for 

 in this case the bottom spit should be merely turned over in its position, and the top spit 

 turned over on it. Trenching or double digging adverse soils costs, per rod : Light 

 soils, from lOd. to Is.; medium soils, from Is. to Is. 3d. ; heavy soils, from Is. 3d. to 

 Is. 6d. Trenching strong gravelly loam, two spits deep, and loosening the bottom 10 to 

 12 inches deep with a fork or pick, f d. to Id. per square yard. General trenching in 

 favourable fruit soils costs ^d. per square yard = 10 Is. 8d. per acre ; in heavy soil, 

 f d. per square yard =: 15 2s. 6d. ; extra preparation by trenching 2 feet deep, loosening 

 the bottom to a depth of 12 inches, and forming a level or even-inclining surface, Id. per 

 square yard = 20 3s. 4d. an acre. 



Turning a deep furrow by an ordinary plough costs 10s. to 15s. or 1 per acre ; 

 followed along each furrow by a subsoil plough cost 15s. per acre; total expense of pre- 

 paring the land by subsoiling, 1 5s. to 1 10s. per acre. Breaking up land with the 

 steam cultivator, passed twice through it in opposite directions to a depth of 15 to 18 

 inches, costs 1 5s. to 1 10s. per acre. 



The object of trenching, double digging, subsoiling, and steam cultivating land is to 

 secure an open condition to allow the free filtration of water through the soil, followed 

 by air with all its beneficial effects. Harrowing is necessary after subsoiling and steam 

 cultivating to produce a level surface. A dressing of manure may also be required, say 

 20 tons per acre. When adequately manured and a root crop taken, the land is left in 

 good condition for planting. Otherwise a moderate amount of manure may be thoroughly 

 mixed with the soil, then after just covering the roots of the tree in planting, apply a 

 thin layer of manure, and fill in with the remaining soil. The land may be cultivated 

 beneficially for five years, not interfering with the roots of the trees, then be sown with 

 grass seeds for permanent pasture, cost : 1 5s. to 1 10s. per acre. (See page 87, 

 Vol. I.) 



Instructions on planting, pruning, and staking will be found on pages 147 153, 

 with illustrations, Fig. 31, page 149, Vol. I. Staking is important; putting the stakes 

 to the young trees at once and protecting them with straw or sacking from injury by the 



