ORCHARDS. 473 



but we are not free to recommend it very highly. A loamy 

 soil that is much watered soon becomes hard; the surface is 

 glazed, rendered in a great measure impermeable to the air, 

 and consequently is no longer capable of affording in dry 

 weather the necessary nourishment to the plant. The sources 

 of its fertility are obstructed. This may be better understood 

 to some of our readers, when we state on the authority of Sir 

 HUMPHREY DAVY, that a soil in the greatest degree absorbent, 

 exposed to the atmosphere till it becomes dry to the touch, 

 still contains moisture equal to one-eighth part of its whole 

 weight. This is discoverable by subjecting it to a heat indi- 

 cated by 300 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Now all 

 water not chemically combined, but only adhering to parts of 

 the soil, is in constant use in vegetation: and the one-eighth 

 part referred to is of this kind. If we estimate common fer- 

 tile soils, however, as containing only one-twelfth part, then 

 in 400 pounds of soil, even when it is dry to the touch, we 

 shall have 33 pounds of water in store for the use of vegeta- 

 tion; and it is particularly worthy of notice, that such soils 

 when deprived of a portion of this by plants, procure a fresh 

 supply by constantly absorbing ivaterfrom the atmosphere, 

 where it exists in the state of vapour. In effect, a good soil 

 is a perpetual fountain, even in dry weather. 



"From these statements it must be evident, that unless the 

 ground is frequently cultivated and kept mellow, so that be- 

 tween its particles the air can pass in, the latter cannot impart 

 the moisture which it holds in solution; but when the soil is 

 freshly broken, minutely divided, and prevented from con- 

 glomerating, these invisible springs are preserved in order, and 

 plants that drink from them will long resist the drought. Let 

 the hoe then, be freely and frequently used." 



Pruning. The principal objects of pruning, are to procure 

 a good bole or trunk for timber, to form a head for the protec- 

 tion of fruit, and to subserve the purpose of ornament. 



To effect these objects with the least trouble and greatest ad- 

 vantage, upon all non-resinous trees, the following rules arc 

 recommended by Judge BUEL. 



1. Begin to prune the tree when it is young. 



2. Cut close and smooth to the bole or limb. 



3. Cut, when small, the branches which are likely to inter- 

 fere, or become useless, and which, if suffered to remain, will 

 require to be removed at a more advanced period of growth. 



4. Do not trim to excess. Let the branches occupy at least 

 a third of the entire height of a tree. 



5. Do not prune when the tree bleeds. Where the preced- 

 ing suggestions are observed, we may add 



40* 



