PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



■Ids of tin' rising linii), for tin' purpose of looking along tin. iiniii to .1 poinl or rising edge (e) in its 

 extremity. The surveyor elevate* this limb, until that part of the trie intended t<> be noticed ia exactly 

 rut by the line • I ion, and the angle subtended between thai and the horizontal is shown upon 



the vertical arch [f] It i- here to be remarked, that the graduations upon the arch ^ /') are not angles 

 ol altitude, bul marks or graduations answering to feel and inches of a tangent line, extending from the 

 horizontal point upwards, taken at a given dl I mi from the tree; consequently, then' are two or more 

 of divisions, answering to the sev< ral distances at which the instrument may be planted. Twenty- 

 four feet and fortj i ighl feel are proposed distances, and the graduations upon the arch (/) are made 

 ., i mi ion \ in . er distance is to be u ed; but for shorter trees, the distance of twenty. 



i >ur feet will be sufficient. The horizontal angli - « bich are to determine the diameter of the trunk, lit 



everal points Of Observatio rt. -lined by the limli ■■ . which slides laterally 11)1011 an arch or 



graduated plate (A) divided upon the same principles as the arch /). The limbs 6) or e being fixed, 



to coincide with one tide of the trunk, the hint) ,{•) is then mined until it coincides with the other side of 

 t lie trunk, and the angle subtended between the two shows, by the graduated plate [A), the diameter in feet 

 and inches 01 the trunk at the points of observation. The length ot the trunk, and its diameter in the 



era! parts, being thus ascertained by the improved instrument, recourse must then be had to tables, cal. 



1 illation^, or the ordinary sliding rule, for the purpose of obtaining from these admeasurements, the solid 

 content of timber in each portion of the tree. There are adjusting screw-, and circular racks and pinions 

 lor moving the limbs of the instrument, and altering their position, as circumstances may require; and 

 When crooked aims, or bent parts of the trunk present themselves, the instrument may he turned upon 

 its pin, in the ball at the top of the stem (a), ami used in an inclined position. [Newton's Jour, vol. i\. 

 p 360.) 



4077. Tlic price of timber, like that of every other article in general use, varies with 

 the supply ami demand, and is easily ascertained from the timber-merchants at the 

 different sea-ports ; as i.s that of bark, charcoal, and lire-wood, from the tanners and 

 coal-merchants, 



•loTH. The usual modes of disposing of timber trees are, selling the trees standing, 

 by auction, by receiving written proposals, or by bargain and sale; 2(\, cutting 

 down the trees, and selling them in the rough, by either of these methods; 3d, con- 

 verting the fallen trees; that is, cutting them tip into the planks or pieces to which 

 they are best adapted, or which tire most eligible in the given situation. The first method 

 seems the best, especially on a large scale, and also for the disposal of copse-wood or 

 osier crops. 



-US5- 



Chap. X. 

 Formation and Management of Orchards. 



4079. The formation of orchards is to be considered among the permanent improve- 

 ments of an estate ; and should be kept in view in its first arrangement or laying out. No 

 temporary occupier could afford to plant an orchard without extraordinary encouragement 

 from his landlord. Orchards in this respect may be ranked with timber plantations, 

 and both subjects together agree in belonging equally to agriculture and gardening. 

 Orchards have doubtless existed in Britain for many ages as appendages to wealthy 

 religious establishments; but, as objects of farming or field culture, they do not appear 

 to have been adopted till about the beginning of the seventeenth century. (Lawson.) 

 They were then introduced by Lord Scudamorc in Herefordshire, in which county, and 

 in such parts of those adjoining as exhibit a red marly soil, are the best farm orchards in 

 England. The chief produce of these orchards is cider and perry; but as these liquors 

 ate not in very general demand in this country, and are confessedly less wholesome and 

 nourishing than malt liquors, their formation cannot be carried to any great extent. 

 It seems desirable, however, that orchards of moderate size should be as generally intro- 

 duced as possible ; as the use of the fruit in pies, tarts, and sauces would add considerably 

 to the comforts of the lower classes. Besides, there are some situations, as steep sheltered 

 banks of good soil, which cannot be so profitably employed in any other branch of hus- 

 bandry. The subject of orchards maybe considered in regard to soil and situation, sorts 

 of trees, planting, culture, and the manufacture or disposal of the produce. 



Sect. I. Soils and Situations most suitable for Orchards. 



4080. The sites of all the best apple orchards, and all the chief cider districts, have been 

 discovered by W. Smith to be on the same stratum of red marl which stretches across 

 the island from Dorsetshire to Yorkshire. Fruit of no kind, indeed, can be raised with 

 much success on a soil that does not contain in its composition a portion of calcareous 

 matter: though apple trees will thrive well on any description of clay which has a dry 

 bottom, and pears and plums on any dry-bottomed soil whatever. 



4081. The most desirable aspect is unquestionably a somewhat elflvated and naturally 

 sheltered declivity, open to tin' south and south-east ; but, as the author of The Hereford- 

 shire Survey remarks, orchards are now found " in every aspect, and on soil of every 

 quality, and under every culture." The most approved site, he say;:, is that which is 

 open to the south-east, and sheltered in other points, but particularly in that opposite. 



