OP FRUIT TREES. 31 



reared in a confined and shaded situation in a 

 large town, and removed to an open exposure in the 

 country, will long continue in a debilitated condition ; 

 like a puny city invalid, their growth will be great- 

 ly impeded, and many years will elapse before they 

 attain to a state of vigour, health, and hardihood. 



From the observations in the preceding pages, it 

 is obviously important, that the seed, to be planted 

 in nurseries, should be selected from fruit of a su- 

 periour quality. John Kenrick, esquire, of New- 

 ton, Massachusetts, has, however, adopted the 

 following method. Take the pumice from late- 

 made cider, separate the seeds by means of a rid- 

 dle sieve, mix them with a quantity of rich loam 

 sifted fine ; put this into al)ox and expose it to the 

 weather during winter. In April, the earth and 

 seeds are put into a basket, and washed until the 

 seeds are separated, when they are planted in a 

 naturally rich soil, thoroughly pulverized, and well 

 prepared with rotten manure and leached lashes. 

 The seeds are planted in straight, parallel rows, 

 three feet apart, and about two inches deep; the 

 plants, if too thick, may be thinned to about six 

 inches apart, by pulling up the feeblest. The plants 

 should be kept clear of weeds, annually manured, 

 and properly pruned. Young trees should be ef- 

 fectually secured from sheep and horned cattle, in 

 every stage of their growth. 



In Marshall's Rural Economy it is directed, that 

 the seedling plants, when taken from the seed bed, 

 be sorted agreeably to the strength of their roots, 

 that they may rise evenly together. The tap, or 

 large bottom root, should be taken off, and the 

 longer side rootlets should be shortened. The 

 young plants should then be set in rows, three 

 feet apart, and from fifteen to eighteen inches asun- 

 der, in the rows ; care being taken not to cramp 

 the roots, but to bed them evenly and horizontally 

 among; the mould. In strictness of management, 



