SANDY AND STRONG LOAMS. 49 



rising out of it to attack the fruit, foliage, or branches of the 

 tree. 



Such are some of the disadvantages of a light sandy soil ; 

 and, in thoroughly examining many of the fruit gardens of 

 the middle states the last few seasons, we could not fail to be 

 struck with the fact that in nine cases out of ten, where a variety 

 of fruit was unusually liable to disease, to blight, or to the at- 

 tacks of certain fruit-destroying insects, as the curculio, the trees 

 themselves were on sandy soils ; while on the other hand, and fre- 

 quently in the same neighbourhood, the same sorts were grow- 

 ing luxuriantly and bearing abundant crops, where the soil was a 

 rather strong loam.* For a few years, the growth and produc- 

 tiveness of the trees upon sandy soil, is all that can be desired ; 

 but the trees are shorter lived and sooner fall into decay than 

 where the soil is stronger. If there is any exception to this 

 rule, it is only in the case of the Peach, and judging from the 

 superiour flavour of this fruit on stronger soils, we are inclined 

 to doubt the value of the exception even here. 



Gravelly loams are frequently much better adapted for or- 

 chards than sandy, especially where the loam is of a strong 

 quality, and the gravel is not in excess ; and the hardier fruits 

 usually do well on this kind of soil. 



Strong loams, by which we mean a loam with only just a 

 sufficient portion of sand to make it easily worked, are on the 

 whole by far the best for fruit gardens in this country. A strong 

 loam is usually a deep soil, and affords during the whole heat of 

 summer, a proper supply of moisture and nourishment to the 

 roots of trees. Fruit trees do not come into a bearing state so 

 soon in a strong as in a sandy loam, because the growth of 

 wood is more vigorous, and fruit buds are not so soon formed ; 

 but they bear larger crops, are much less liable to many diseases, 

 and their longevity is much greater. The largest and most 

 productive orchards of the apple and pear in this country are 

 upon soils of this kind. 



Clayey loams are, when well drained, and when the clay is 

 not in excess, good fruit soils they are usually strong and deep 

 soils though rather heavy and difficult to work. Trees that will 

 flourish on these soils such as the Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, 

 and Apricot, usually are very free from disease, or insects, and 

 bear large crops. In a moist climate, like that of England, 

 fruit trees on a clayey loam would die of canker, brought on by 

 the excessive quantity of water contained in the soil, but such is 



* As an instance in point, the owner of one of the most highly cultivated gar- 

 dens in the vicinity of Boston was showing us, in despair, some trees of the Seckel 

 pear upon which he could no longer get good crops, or fair fruit, and lamenting the 

 degeneracy of the sort. The next day we saw in a neighbouring garden beautiful 

 crops of this pear growing with the least possible care. The garden in the first 

 case was a light sandy loam; in the second, a strong loam. 



5 



