128 THE NUKSEEY. 



oj)eration suggests, is the condition of the soil. Under 

 the head of soils, sufficient has been said respecting the 

 modes of deepening.^ draining.^ and enricMng y and it is 

 only necessary to say here, that where stocks are planted, 

 the soil should be at once deep., dry., and Hch ; for no 

 such thing as sound vigorous fruit trees can be raised on 

 a poor, shallow, or wet soil. The various means of im- 

 provement have been already j)ointed out and explained. 

 It may, however, be well- to remark that ground may be 

 too rich., and induce a rank, watery growth, that would 

 either result in death at the final transplanting into the 

 garden or orchard, or in a very feeble and sickly growth 

 after it. We see frequent illustrations of this in the case 

 of trees raised in old, worn out nurseries, where rapid 

 growth has been forced by powerfully-stimulating ma- 

 nures. These rank, pithy, soft productions, are very 

 attractive to the eye ; but they suffer so much by removal, 

 no matter how well treated, that they seldom fail to dis 

 appoint the planter. This thing should, therefore, be 

 guarded against. Manures used should be well decom- 

 posed, and incorporated with the soil, if jDossible the 

 autumn before planting. A tree is not like a cabbage or 

 a lettuce. The tenderness and succulency of these con- 

 stitute their great merit ; but the wood of a tree must be 

 firm., short-jointed., and mature., and these requisites are 

 always attained by a moderate and natural, not a forced 

 growth. 



Planting each species in the soil hest adaj^ted to it. — • 

 Where there are different characters of soils in a nursery, 

 to be planted with a general assortment of stocks, it is im- 

 portant to give to each that which is best adapted to its 

 nature ; thus the pear, apple, and plum should have the 

 richer, deeper, and more compact, or that with most clay. 

 The plum in particular succeeds well on a pretty stiff clay. 

 The cherry and peach should have the lightest and warmest. 



