150 THE ORCHARD. [FEB. 



ground, be carefully examined, and where any are found they must 

 be picked out with the point of a knife, and with as little injury to 

 the bark as possible, for by lacerating the rind or bark in a careless 

 manner, which is too frequently the case on these occasions, this 

 vehicle, which nature has provided for carrying up the nourishment 

 extracted by the roots, being destroyed, the trees must of course 

 perish, or be weakened in proportion as it is injured. 



This being done, wash all the trunks or stems of the trees, as well 

 as any other parts in which you suspect these vermin or their embryo 

 eggs to be lodged, with the above solution, and also the wounded 

 parts, after which apply with a brush a slight dressing of the medi- 

 cated tar to each and every of the wounds inflicted by picking out 

 the worms. This will preserve your trees in health and fruitful- 

 ness much longer than if left to the mercy of these destructive in- 

 truders. 



As to manure, it is well known that where hogs and poultry are 

 constantly running over the ground, the trees seldom fail of a crop, 

 which is the best proof that manure is necessary. Any manure will 

 suit an orchard, but the sweepings of cow-houses, hog-pens, slaughter- 

 houses, poultry and pigeon-houses, emptying of drains, &c., are more 

 disposed to facilitate the growth and promote the health of fruit-trees, 

 than stable manure. However, any kind of manure is better than 

 none at all. 



ON ROOT-PRUNING. 



When a tree has stood so long that the leading roots have entered 

 into the under strata, they are apt to draw a crude fluid, which the 

 organs of the most delicate fruit-trees cannot convert into such 

 balsamic juices as to produce fine fruit. To prevent this evil, as 

 soon as a valuable tree begins to show a sickly pinkiness upon the 

 leaves, or the fruit inclining to ripeness before it has acquired its full 

 growth, at the same time the bark becoming dry, hard, and disposed 

 to crack, let the ground, as soon in the spring as the frost is out of 

 it, be opened for three or four feet round the tree, and with a chisel 

 cut close to the horizontal roots every one that you find in the least 

 tending downward. Should there be any mouldy appearance or rot- 

 tenness among the roots, cut such out effectually, and wash the others 

 clean with a weak lye or soap suds. If the ground be wet, place a 

 few flat stones under the places where you cut off the descending 

 roots, to prevent the young roots which may be produced again from 

 about the cuts taking a perpendicular direction, and to give them a 

 lateral inclination. 



As the roots invariably collect the sap from the extreme points, 

 this cutting compels the horizontal ones to work and exert themselves, 

 and if there be any energy left, they will soon throw out fresh fibres, 

 and thus collect a more congenial sap for the support of the tree and 

 fruit. At the same time, in the filling in of the earth, add a quantity 

 of good rotten manure, and cover the ground thinly over with the 

 same, as far as the roots may be supposed to extend; wash the stem 

 and branches with soap-suds, or if any worms are perceivable, with 



