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tions concerning the time and man- 

 ner of planting an orchard, see 

 Fruit trees and Transplanting, 



Concerning the right distance of 

 the trees in an orchard, there are 

 a variety of opinions. But the 

 coldness and wetness of the cH- 

 mate, an argument used in Eng- 

 land for placing them far asunder, 

 does not so well apply in this 

 country. Trees in that cold and 

 cloudy region need every possible 

 advantage of exposure to the sun 

 and air. It should be considered 

 at the time of planting, to what 

 size the trees are likely to grow : 

 And they should be set so far 

 asunder, that their limbs will not 

 be likely to interfere with each 

 other, when they arrive to their 

 full growth. In a soil that suits 

 them best, they will beconte larg- 

 est. Twenty -five feet may be (he 

 right distance m some soils ; but 

 thirty-five feet will not be too 

 mueh in the best, or even forty. 

 If, contrary to expectation, they 

 should be too close when they are 

 grown up. they may be easily 

 thnnied : And it will be better to 

 take away here and there a whole 

 tree, than to lop and maim them 

 all, that they may have room. 



Thf plantiiie; of small trees in 

 the midst of full grown ones does 

 not answer so well for the small 

 ones, as when the trees are all 

 nearly of one size. A small tree 

 among large ones has not an equal 

 chance o( exposure to tlie sun and 

 air : Both of which arc of great 

 imponanre. So that it is of tlie 

 les'!- insportancp to replace a tree 

 that dies in bu orchard. And it is 

 of no advantage to do it, when the 



nearest neighbouring trees appear 

 to be rather too much crowded. 



An orchard must be constantly 

 well fenced, to keep out cattle. It 

 should be enclosed by itself. Hun- 

 gry sheep would peel the trees 

 while they are young ; and cattle 

 will bite offall the limbs of young 

 and old trees that are within their 

 reach. But there is no danger in 

 turning in a horse occasionally, 

 when there is grass and no apples ; 

 and swine may be confined in an 

 orchard that is grown up, so that 

 the trees cannot be hurt by them, 

 and when the fruit is not in their 

 way. 



Sheep sometimes get into an 

 orchard that is well fenced, by 

 means of high banks of snow, when 

 they are stiff or crusted. I can 

 think of no better way to prevent 

 this, than to make the fence so 

 open, with round poles, or pickets, 

 that the snow will pass freely 

 through it, and not rise in high 

 banks. The latter kind of fence 

 might be so constructed as to keep 

 out such creatures as are apt to 

 take fruit from the trees, without 

 leave of the proprietor. 



After an orchard is planted, it 

 is best to keep the land continu- 

 ally in tillage, till the trees have 

 nearly got their full growth ; at 

 least till they have begun to bear 

 plentifully. The trees will grow 

 faster, and be more fruitful. But 

 great care must betaken that the 

 roots be not disturbed by plough- 

 ing, nor the bark on the stems of 

 the trees wounded. The ground 

 near the trees, which the plough 

 leaves, should be broken and made 

 mellow with a spade, for two or 



