ORCHARDS. 



In the arrangement of an orchard, both convenience and 

 beauty will result from planting each kind of trees in distinct 

 contiguous rows. Some cultivators pay particular attention to 

 continue in the orchard the aspect the tree maintained in the 

 nursery. Mr. COXE says, I hav sometimes adopted the prac- 

 tice, without much confidence in its efficacy; nor can I think 

 it probable that trees growing in close rows in the nursery, not 

 much exposed, can by any habit so limited in its duration, be 

 affected by any permanent contraction or rigidity of the bark 

 or sap vessels, which are the only effects I have ever ascribed 

 to the influence of aspect on the stems of young trees. 



The prevalent winds of our climate are from north-west. In 

 light soils their violence will sometimes give an inclination to 

 newly planted trees to the south-east. This may easily be 

 remedied by setting up the trees while young, and when they 

 have attained a large growth, it may be overcome in a great 

 degree by cutting off the leaning branches, and by freely 

 pruning the leeward side of the tree. But this may be pre- 

 vented in the beginning by fixing short poles or stakes, and 

 tying the tree to them. 



Moss is a plant produced by poverty and neglect; it is very 

 prejudicial to trees, and should be carefully removed. This 

 can be readily done by rubbing the trees in damp weather 

 with a bone or the back of a knife. A good cultivator will 

 generally prevent the growth of moss. Whitewashing the 

 stem not only cleanses the tree of moss, but destroys many 

 kinds of lice injurious to fruit trees. It is followed by a clean- 

 liness in the bark, after it has been dissolved by the rain, and 

 promotes the health and vigour of the tree whenever applied. 



The. Nursery. It has been said, and we think with much 

 good sense, that "every farmer ought to raise his own trees," 

 because, besides the risk, inconvenience, and expense of bring- 

 ing our plants from abroad, we have, in pursuing that mode of 

 supply, to encounter the mistakes and the ill consequences 

 which follow a want of analogy between the soil in which the 

 plants were raised, and that to which they are to be transferred. 

 The first step, therefore, towards obtaining a good orchard, is 

 to create a good nursery. The situation most favourable for 

 this, is a piece of level ground, defended from cold and violent 

 winds either by natural or artificial means, and which in com- 

 position is neither wet nor dry, and of only middling fertility. 

 This condition of the soil is a circumstance of much importance, 

 and ought to be rigorously observed; because the vessels of 

 young trees, growing in rich soils, take a size proportioned to 

 the quantity of sap they receive and circulate, and if their situa- 

 tion be changed for the worse, the quantity of the sap being 



