386 



in the spring ronnd the tree, under the bark, above and below 

 the injury, so as to form a communication for the sap, the in- 

 jured parts have begun to grow together, the whole wound may 

 ultimately be covered, and the tree live and flourish. To most 

 persons, after the injury their situation would have seemed des- 

 perate. Mr Phinney avoids planting his trees deep ; but culti- 

 vates them as near the surface as he can, and at the same time 

 sufficiently to cover the roots. 



John Welles, whose farm is in Natick, in this county, and 

 than whom few men among us have given more attention to 

 the subject of fruit and" forest trees, considers the ordinary life 

 of apple trees about sixty years ; but it would be desirable to 

 replace them soon after their decline commences. The situation 

 most favorable to an orchard is a sheltered situation with a moist 

 soil. He succeeded in producing a valuable growth of trees on 

 a light and unfriendly soil, by making a hole for planting four 

 feet square ; after removing about a foot of the top soil, which 

 was to be returned round the tree, taking out the hard pan at 

 bottom to a sufficient depth to deposit in it a load of stones, 

 and then sprinkling some mould on the stones and planting his 

 tree. The stones served to preserve moisture for the roots and 

 gave likewise in their interstices room for the roots to extend 

 themselves. No farmer need complain that his land is not suit- 

 able for an orchard ; because he may make it suitable, at an ex- 

 pense which the fruit of the tree after it comes in bearing will 

 soon compensate. 



James Cutter, of Weston, has been remarkably successful in 

 transplanting trees of more than ordinary size. He has remov- 

 ed pear trees of 8 and 10 inches in diameter. His practice is 

 to clean the dirt entirely from the roots of the tree ; to cut oft" 

 all the roots, at a distance of four or five feet from the tree ; and 

 to put no manure in the hole. 



I. M. Gourgas, of Weston, a farmer of much experience and 

 intelligence, disapproves of applying white-wash or any caustic 

 wash to the trees ; but he has found great advantage in the ap- 

 plication of ashes to them at the roots. To my inquiries of 



