512 A GRICUL TURE. 



Water poured on in this case sinks rapidly down, and makes 

 cavities among the roots and lets in air. Mould and canker 

 follow, and great injury is done. 



Cultivation. In the first place, the ground is always to be 

 kept clear of weeds, for whatever they take is just so much 

 taken from the fruit, either in quantity or quality, or in both. 

 It is true that very fine orchards have grass covering all the 

 ground beneath the trees ; but these orchards would be still 

 finer if the ground were kept clear from all plants except the 

 trees. Such a piece of ground is at once an orchard and a pas- 

 ture. What is lost in one way is probably gained the other ; 

 but if we come to fine and choice fruits, there can be nothing 

 that can grow beneath to balance the injury done to the trees. 

 The roots of trees go deep ; but the principal part of their nour- 

 ishment comes from the top soil. The ground should be loose 

 to a good depth, which is the certain cause of constant moisture ; 

 but trees draw downward as well as upward, and draw more 

 nourishment in the former than in the latter direction. 



If crops be grown under trees in orchards, they should be 

 wheat, rye, winter barley, or something that does not demand a 

 plowing of the ground in the spring. In the garden, dig the 

 ground well and clean, with a fork, late in November. Go close 

 to the stems of the trees, but do not bruise the large roots. 

 Clean and clear all well close around the stem. Make the 

 ground smooth just there. Ascertain whether there are insects 

 of any sort there ; and if there are, take care to destroy them. 

 Pull or scrape off all the rough bark at the bottom of the stem. 

 If you even peel off the bark a foot or two up, in case there are 

 insects, it will do all the better. Wash the stems in water in 

 which tobacco has been soaked, and do this whether you find 

 insects or not. Put the tobacco into hot water and let it soak 

 twenty-four hours, before you use the water ; this will destroy 

 or drive away all insects. But for the purpose of removing all 

 harbor for insects, make the ground smooth just around the 

 stem of the tree, and let the rest of the ground lie as rough as 

 you can ; for the rougher it lies the more it will be broken by 

 frost, which is a great enricher of all land. When the spring 

 comes, and the ground is dry at the top, give the whole of the 



