CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



is forty feet in all directions, and this gives twenty- 

 seven trees to an acre, while at thirty feet apart, 

 an acre will contain forty-eight trees, and at thirty- 

 five feet distance, thirty-five trees occupy an acre. 

 With respect to the most proper season for 

 planting apple trees in the United States, different 

 opinions prevail. According to Dr. Mease, no 

 general rule can be given, owing to the immense 

 variety of climates with which we are favoured. 

 In some states, the autumn may be best, while in 

 others, in Pennsylvania, it is probable that early in 

 the spring answers best. Indeed, in a comparative 

 experiment of spring and autumn planting, made 

 near Philadelphia, in 1802-3, the advantage was 

 considerably in favour of those put down in the 

 spring. Some, planted in autumn, were from a nur- 

 sery near the city, and nearly all died ; another par- 

 cel, from the excellent nursery of Mr. Prince, of 

 Flushing, Long Island, arrived late in April, and all 

 survived. There was no reason to suspect any 

 difference in the soil, or the care with which both 

 parcels were planted. E. Preble, esquire, of Bos- 

 ton, is decided in preferring autumn to spring, for 

 planting apple trees, as the ground will settle 

 round the roots before frost, and the trees prepar- 

 ed to shoot in the spring, aided by the rains which 

 prevail at that season. If planted in spring, he ob- 

 serves, the drought and heat of summer will in- 

 jure, if not destroy them, before the roots find 

 their place. He is in the practice of transplanting 

 them as soon as the foliage is off in autumn, and 

 farmers have more leisure at that season of the 



year. 



a !** i^..r. 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND, AND PLANTING. 



WHEN the ground is in pasture, it should be 

 ploughed to a considerable depth, and well sum- 

 mer fallowed, till the grass be killed. But, if 



