MARCH] THE ORCHARD. 239 



imagine, especially for apple, pear, and other hardy fruit-trees ; for 

 you will find these growing and bearing fruit in the greatest perfec- 

 tion in every aspect where the soil is suitable, and proper care taken 

 of the trees ; but the more tender and early flowering fruits, such as 

 peaches and nectarines, &c., will require to be planted where they 

 may have protection from the cold north and northwesterly winds ; 

 which, when accompanied by frost, often do considerable injury to 

 their early bloom ; and likewise, it will be necessary to give a warm 

 exposure, especially in the eastern and middle States, to late ripen- 

 ing kinds, such as the heath-peach, &c., in order to bring their fruit 

 to maturity in due season. 



In the southern States a north aspect will be the most eligible for 

 apple-trees, and perhaps for several other kinds. 



With respect to situation, very thriving orchards are frequently 

 found on high and low grounds, on declivities and plains, in various 

 aspects and exposures ; but this is in consequence of the natural soil 

 being good; you should, however, avoid very low damp situations, 

 particularly such as lodge water; for in very wet soils, no fruit-trees 

 will prosper, nor will the fruit produced in such places be good ; but 

 a moderately low situation, free from wet, may be more eligible than 

 an elevated ground, as being less exposed to tempestuous winds ; 

 but if having a gentle declivity the more desirable. 



A proper soil being the grand and essential requisite, should be 

 carefully selected, for on this depends much of your success; a good 

 deep sandy loam, neither too dry nor wet, is the most suitable for all 

 kinds of fruit-trees, and whether this be on high or low situations it 

 should be preferred to every other. In the heaviest part of this 

 ground you may plant apples and pears ; in the lighter, plums and 

 cherries ; and in the lightest, peach, nectarine, and apricots. G-ene- 

 speaking ground that will produce good crops of natural grass, or 

 kitchen garden vegetables, is suitable for an orchard; if of a loamy 

 nature it will be a particular advantage; any soil, however, of a 

 good quality, not too light and dry, nor too heavy, stubborn, or wet, 

 and not less than one spade deep of good staple will be proper for 

 this purpose. 



Where the soil is naturally defective, such may be assisted by the 

 application of proper manures and composts ; applying them to the 

 whole ground if but of moderate extent, or, if extensive, to the place 

 where each tree is to stand, for the space of eight or ten feet in dia- 

 meter, working it up with the natural soil. 



This trouble, however, in extensive orchards would be very ex- 

 pensive ; therefore those who have choice of ground should be very 

 careful to fix upon a proper soil, such as would require but little 

 assistance. 



PREPARATION OP THE GROUND. 



The preparation of the ground, for the reception of fruit-trees, is 

 either by digging a spacious place for each tree, a general trenching 

 of the ground, or by ploughing it. If the latter kind of preparation 

 is intended, and that the ground has been under pasture for some 



