144 AGRICULTURE. 



eral remarks, we proceed to what is more particu- 

 larly the object of this chapter. 



It has been said, and, \\ e think, with much good 

 sense, that "every farmer ought to raise his own 

 trees," because, besides ihe risk, inconvenience, 

 and expense of bringing our plants from abroad, we 

 have, in pursuing that mode of supply, to encoun- 

 ter the tricks and blunders of nurserymen, and the 

 ill consequences which follow a want of analogy 

 between the soil in which the plants were raised 

 and that to which they are to be transferred. The 

 first step, therefore, towards obtaining a good or- 

 chard, is to create a good nursery. The situation 

 most favourable for this is a piece of level ground, 

 defended from cold and violent winds either by 

 natural or artificial means, and which, in composi- 

 tion, is neither wet nor dry, and of only middling 

 fertility. This condition of the soil is a circum- 

 stance of much importance, and ought to be rigor- 

 ously observed, because the vessels of young trees 

 growing in rich soils take a size proportioned to 

 the quantity of sap they receive and circulate ; and 

 if their situation be changed for the worse, the 

 quantity of the sap being necessarily diminished, 

 the vessels become rigid and unhealthy, and unable 

 to carry to the extremity of the branches the nour- 

 ishment required by them. The ground, selected 

 on these principles, must be securely fenced, thor- 

 oughly ploughed and harrowed, freed from stones 

 and the roots of perennial plants, and then thrown 

 up into three or four feet ridges, on which you will 

 sow and cover your apple and pear seed, and plant 

 your cherry and peach stones. It will now be use- 

 ful to roll the beds for the purpose of bringing the 

 soil and the seeds everywhere into contact ; after 

 which they may be covered with clean straw for 

 the winter. In the spring your young apple and 

 pear-trees will show themselves, and afterward 

 your cherries and peaches. The treatment to all 



