erate and continued supply of moisture, and 

 here the sandy soil fails. In consequence of 

 this the vig-or of the tree is checked, and it be- 

 comes feeble in its growth, and is comparatively 

 ghort lived, or unproductive. As a tree in a 

 feeble state is ahvajs most liable to the attacks 

 of insects, those on a sandj' soil are the first to 

 fall a prey to numerous maladies.* The open 

 loose texture of a sandy soil, joined to its 

 warmth, affords an easy passage, and an excel- 

 lent habitation for all insects that pass part of 

 their lives in the ground, preparatory to rising 

 out of it to attack the fruit, foliage, or branches 

 of the tree. 



Such are some of the disadvantages of a light 

 sandy soil ; and, in thoroughly examining many 

 of the fruit gardens of the middle States the last 

 few seasons, we could not i'ail to be struck with 

 the fact that in nine cases out of ten, where a 

 variety of fruit was unusually liable to disease, 

 to blight, or to the attacks of certain fruit-de- 

 stroying insects, as the curculio. the trees them- 

 selves were on sandy soils ; while on the other 

 hand, and frequently in the same neighborhood, 

 the same sorts were growing luxuriantly and 

 bearing abundant crops, where the soil was a 

 rather strong loam.t For a few years, the 

 growth and productiveness of the trees upon 

 sandy soil, is all that can be desired ; but the 

 trees are shorter lived and sooner fall into decaj" 

 than where the soil is stronger. If there is any 

 exception to this rule, it is only in the case of 

 the Peach, and judging from the sup^ior flavor 

 of this fruit on stronger soils, we are inclined to 

 doubt die value of the exception even here. 



Grarelh/ loamx are frequently much better 

 adapted for orchards than .sandy, especially 

 where the loam is of a strong quality, and the 

 gravel is not in excess ; and the hardier fruits 

 usually do -well on this kind of soil. 



Strong loams, by which %\ e mean a loam 

 with only ju.st a sufficient portion of sand to 

 make it easily ^vorked, are on the whole by far 

 the best for fruit gardens in this countiy. A 

 strong loam is u.sually a deep soil, and affords 

 during the whole heat of summer, a proper sup 

 ply of moisture and nourishment to the roots of 

 trees. Fruit trees do not come into a bearing 

 state so soon in a strong as in a sandy loam, be- 

 cause the growth of wood is more vigorous, and 

 fruit buds are not so soon formed ; but they bear 

 larger crops, are much less liable to many dis- 

 eases, and their longevity is much greater. The 

 largest and most productive orchards of the 

 Apple and Pear in tliis country are upon soils 

 of this kind. 



Clayey loams are, ^vhen well drained, and 

 when the clay is not in exct^ss, good fruit soils ; 

 they are usuallj' strong and deep soils though 

 rather heavy and difficult to work. Trees that 

 will flourish on these soils, .such as the Apple, 

 Pear, Cherry, Plum, and Apricot, usually are 

 very free from disease, or insects, and bear large 



* This remark applies to the middle find southern 

 portions of this coumiy. North of iho 43d degree, 

 a light sandy soil is perhaps preferable as wanner 

 and earlier. 



t As an instance in point, the oisTier of one of the 

 most highly cultivated gardens in the vicinity of 

 Boston was showing us. in despair, some trees of the 

 Seckol pear upon whii-h he could no longer get good 

 crops, or fair fruit, and lamenting the degmerai-y of 

 the sort. The next day we .=aw in a neighboring 

 garden beautiful crops of this pear crowing with the 

 le.ist possible care. The gaiden in the first case was a 

 sandy loam ; in the second, a strong loam. 



crops. In a moist climate, like that of England, 

 fruit trees on a clayey loam would die of canker, 

 brought on by the excessive quantity of water 

 contained in the soil, but such is not the case 

 under the high and warm temperature of our 

 summers. The finest, largest, and most produc- 

 tive Plums and Pears within our knoweldi; 

 grow in sites on the North river, when the soil 

 is a stiff clayey loam, almost approaching a clay. 

 Tho.se fruits that on light sandy soils are almost 

 ^vorthless from their liabilitj- to disease, and the 

 attacks of insects, are here surprisingly luxuri- 

 ant and fruitful. 



It is, however, well to remark, tliat some va- 

 rieties of fruit, perhaps from the cu-cumstances 

 of their origin, succeed better on sandy soils 

 than any other ; thus the Newtown pippin will 

 only amve at perfection in a strong loam, while 

 the yellow bell flower is finer when grown on 

 a sandy soil. But these are exceptions to all 

 rules, and what we have already stated, as to 

 the relative quality of soils, will apply pretty 

 generally to the whole of this country south of 

 the Mohawk river ; and it may be added that 

 calcareous soils, of whatever textm-e, are better 

 than soils of the same quality where no lime- 

 stone is present. 



Trenching is the most complete method of 

 improving a soil too sandy, when the subsoil 

 below is of a loamy or clayey nature. Deep 

 subsoil plowing, by bringing up a sufficient 

 quantity of the stratum below, will answer the 

 same purpo.se. When the subsoil of a sandy- 

 soil is sand or gravel, the surface can oulj' be 

 improved by top-dressings, or the application of 

 manures. Top-dressing with clay is the most 

 simple means of changing the nature of such a 

 soil, and it is surprising how moderate a quan- 

 tity of clay will give a closer texture to light 

 saiidy .soils. In manuring such soils, we may 

 greatly improve their nature as well as condi- 

 tion, by using composts of peat or bog-earth, 

 swamp muck, or river mud. instead of common 

 barn-yard or stable manure. The former are 

 not oiilj' more permanent and better as manures 

 for fruit trees, but they gradually consolidate 

 and improve the whole texture of the soil. 



Indeed, no fruit garden, where the soil is not 

 naturally deep andrich, is in peii'cc/ condition 

 for planting trees, unless the soil has been well 

 trenched two spades in depth. This creates a 

 matrix for the roots, so deep and permanent 

 that they retain their vigor and luxuriance 

 through the drouths of sunmier and continue for 

 a long time in a state of health and productive- 

 ness. 



It is difficult to give any precise rules as to 

 aspect. Wc have seen fine fruit gardens here 

 in all aspects. Perhaps the verj- best aspect, on 

 the whole is a gentle slope to the southwest, be- 

 cause in such positions the trees, when in blos- 

 som, are somewhat protected from the bad efiects 

 of a morning sun after spring frosts. But, to re- 

 medy that more perfectly, it is sometimes the 

 practice to plant on the north sides of hills, and 

 this is an cflectual way where early frosts are 

 fatal, and where the season is long and warm 

 enough to ripen the fruit in any exposure. A 

 due south slope is, south of Nev,--York, fre- 

 (juently found too warm for many fruit trees, in 

 soils that are light and dry. 



Deep valleys, with small streams of water, are 

 the worst situations for fruit trees, as the cold air 

 settles down in these vallcjs in a calm frosty 

 niKlit, and buds and blos.<^3ms are very frequently 

 destroved. We know a rich and tortile valley 



