46 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



saved in staking, to prevent their ruin from the 

 wind. This method has not, we believe, been very 

 frequently adopted, although recommended by other 

 cultivators beside the venerable author just cited, 

 the result of whose long experience, and the reasons 

 assigned for the practice, must be deemed satisfac- 

 tory. It has been stated by an English author, that 

 when young trees are planted out from the nursery, 

 as soon as they begin to break in the spring, they 

 are to be cut down to three or four eyes, according 

 to their strength, to furnish them with bearing 

 wood. If this were not done, they would run up in 

 long naked branches, and would not produce one 

 quarter of the fruit which they would when this is 

 properly performed. 



ORCHARD. PLANTING AND CULTURE. 



It is an object of no inconsiderable importance to 

 select the most eligible soil, situation and aspect for 

 laying out a fruit orchard. With respect to soil, it 

 should be of a rich loamy nature, neither too wet 

 or heavy, nor too light or dry. Those fertile fields 

 or pastures which produce abundant crops of corn, 

 grass, and other vegetables, will in general be found 

 well adapted to the growth of fruit trees. But in 

 all cases, the soil should be suited to the particular 

 kind of fruit. In Herefordshire, a celebrated cider 

 county, in England, it is said to be a fact well ascer- 

 tained, that scions from the same tree, grafted upon 

 similar stocks, and planted in different soils, will 

 produce cider of different qualities. It is also found 

 that the early fruits obtain the greatest perfection 

 in a sandy soil, and that the late fruits succeed best 

 when planted in a strong clay. The best cider or- 

 chards are on a strong clayey soil ; for it seems to 

 be admitted that the cider from trees in clay is 

 stronger, and will keep better, than cider made from 

 trees on a sandy soil. But again, as applicable to 



