WARCH-] THE ORCHARD. 



Be very cautious, not to leave any of the corrosive sublimate, or 

 solution, in a careless manner in or about the house, for, with re- 

 spect to animal life, it is a very active poison ; so powerful, that 

 when administered medicinally, the quarter of a grain, being the 

 two hundred and fortieth part of a drachm, is considered a sufficient 

 dose for an adult person. 



t Extent^ Asfiectj Situation^ and Soil. 



The extent of an Orchard should be in proportion to tfre quan- 

 tity of fruit required, either for family use, distillation, cyder, &c. 

 or for public supply ; and may be from half an acre, to a hundred 

 acres, or more. 



As to aspect, that is not of as much importance as some people 

 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, 8cc. will require to be planted, 

 where they may have protection from the cold north and north- 

 westerly winds ; which, when accompanied by frost, often do con- 

 siderable injury to their early bloom ; and likewise, it will be ne- 

 cessary to give a warm exposure, especially in the eastern and 

 middle states, to late ripening kinds, such as the heath-peach, See. 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 situa- 

 tions, 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 si- 

 tuations, 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. Generally 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^e proper for this purpose. 



