OF FRUIT TREES. 59 



five apples on each tree, to ascertain their size and 

 quality. Even at a more advanced stage of growth, 

 if part of the apples are taken off in season, the 

 remainder will be much improved in all respects, 

 and the trees will not only produce fruit in higher 

 perfection, but the bearing branches will every 

 year become more vigorous and fruitful. It has 

 been observed, that trees, which begin their bear- 

 ing gradually, are, in general, more disposed to afford 

 an annual crop, 



It is not to be expected, that the systematick 

 plan and particular rules described in the foregoing 

 pages, will accord with the views and circumstan- 

 ces of every agriculturalist. It may, in some in- 

 stances, interrupt a course of field culture which 

 the farmer has prescribed for himself, or his farm 

 may not afford an eligible situation for a regular 

 plantation of fruit trees. In such dilemma it may 

 be convenient to plant trees in various parts of the 

 farm, not otherwise occupied, as on the borders and 

 corners of fields contiguous to roads, lanes, &c. In 

 some instances, it is deemed a preferable method to 

 set trees on the sides of a square field, the centre 

 of which is left open for pasture or tillage; and 

 such arrangement is not without its advantages. 

 It has been observed, that apple trees produce a 

 more abundant crop when the ground is trodden 

 and manured by cattle in the winter; but they 

 should by no means be suffered to browse on the 

 branches. We are not, indeed, without examples 

 of scattered trees, of spontaneous growth, occupy- 

 ing land which has never been broken by the 

 plough, nor subjected to the hand of culture. From 

 these, tolerable crops of fruit are occasionally ob- 

 tained, which, although of inferiour quality, are 

 nevertheless capable of being converted to useful 

 purposes. With the view of showing the facility 

 with which many natural disadvantages may be 

 overcome, and an orchard reared in the most un- 



