224 THE ORCHARD. [MARCH, 



ed as before, but without touching their heads, for the present. So 

 soon after planting as their buds begin to push, head them down 

 to within six, eight, or ten inches of the place where you wish them 

 to branch out for forming their heads; they will then throw out 

 young vigorous shoots, which you may afterwards train and thick- 

 en, or make thin at pleasure, by judicious pruning in the following 

 years ; or should any of these young shoots in the course of the 

 succeeding months, take too great a lead of the others, you may 

 top them in July, which will stop their rampant growth, and cause 

 them to throw out side shoots that will still enlarge a foundation for 

 numerous branches, and not carry off too much of the sap from 

 the others. 



Should it happen that any of your trees, have large heads and 

 but few or scanty roots ; reduce their tops, by a select and judicious 

 pruning, to a due proportion with their roots ; for an Ox, fed only- 

 through a wren's quill, could not long exist. This, will seldom 

 happen, unless by accident, or carelessness in the taking of them 

 up ; provided, they are raised at proper distances, in the Nursery. 



The arrangement of the trees in the Orchard should be in rows, 

 each different kind of fruit separate, and at distances proportionate 

 to the nature of their growths. Apple and pear trees may be planted 

 at fifty feet distance, every way ; cherry and plum, at from thirty to 

 forty ; peach, nectarine, apricot, almonds and quinces, at from 

 twenty-five to thirty feet ; and at still greater distances, if you are 

 not limited in extent of suitable ground, and that you intend to 

 raise various crops between the trees. 



You should have great regard to the distance of planting the 

 trees, which is what few people have rightly considered ; for if you 

 plant them too close, they will be liable to blights ; the air being 

 thereby pent in amongst them, will also cause the fruit to be ill tast- 

 ed ; for a great quantity of damp vapours from the perspiration 

 of the trees, and the exhalation from the earth mixed with it, 

 will be imbibed by the fruit, and render their juices crude and un- 

 wholesome ; besides, it is the opinion of some well informed 

 naturalists and orchardists, that these vapours and perspiration of 

 the trees, collect the heat of the sun, and reflect it in streams, so as 

 to cause what is called a fire-blast; which, is extremely hurtful to 

 fruit, and most frequent, where the Orchards are open to the south 

 sun. 



Having your trees in readiness, proceed to stake or mark out the 

 ground, according to the above, or greater distances, placing a small 

 stake or mark, where each hole is to be made, for the reception of the 

 trees ; which if made to range every way^ will have a very agreea- 

 ble effect, admit the currency of air and sun's influence more effectu- 

 ally, and make the Orchard still more convenient for tillage. 



A wide circular hole must be dug for every tree, capacious enough 

 to receive all the roots freely without touching the sides ; but by no 

 means of a greater depth than the natural good soil : if you 

 make a deep hole, bason like, into the clay bottom, or unfriendly, 

 sub-soil, which is too frequently clone, and plant the roots therein, 

 even filling it round with good earth will not do, for as soon as it 



