462 Of Orchards. 



pasture. To prevent the animals from eating the fruit, when 

 the trees are loaded with apples, their heads are sometimes 

 secured to the fore feet by means of halters ( 482 ). 



The same plan, to prevent cows from raising their heads 

 high enough to browse the branches of the trees, is adopted 

 in the cherry orchards of Essex ( 4S3 ). 



Sheep are injurious to orchards, by breaking the trees, 

 which may easily be obviated, by a wash of lime and night- 

 soil, applied to the height of three or four feet on the stem of 

 each tree, previous to the sheep being admitted. This pre- 

 caution is particularly necessary for the first ten years after an 

 orchard has been planted. 



It is an useful practice, to turn hogs into orchards, and give 

 them there beans or other food. The turning up the earth, 

 in search of roots, is thought to be of use to the trees, and 

 tends to the destruction of weeds, grubs, and insects ( 4S4 ). 

 It is necessary however, to use precautions, when any species 

 of stock is admitted into an orchard, as swine are fond of 

 fruit ; sheep eat it with avidity ; and deer are still more par- 

 tial to it ( 485 ). 



The chief orchards in Scotland, being either upon banks, 

 so steep as to be inaccessible to cattle, or in clayey soils, which 

 might be injured by poaching, are seldom pastured. Yet 

 orchards thus kept, must have a disgusting appearance, since 

 weeds, instead of grass, are likely to abound. Grazing with 

 sheep or cattle, or, if necessary, using some manure to the 

 trees, would seem to be preferable to the admission of swine 

 un-ringed. The trees in general, are only trained as half- 

 standards. The grass is therefore cut with the scythe, and 

 given to cows and horses, though there are not wanting pre- 

 judices against this practice ( 48<s ). It is not approved of in 

 England, where mowing the grass of orchards, is thought to 

 exhaust the ground so much as to be destructive to the trees 

 in it. Some orchards, which were very productive when fed, 

 have produced nothing after a few years mowing ( 487 ). Per- 

 haps this may, in part at least, have been owing to other 

 causes ; and, if tried, some kind of manure or compost, might 

 doubtless be found, to supply the place of the dung of the 

 cattle. 



7. Management. The forming an orchard is a work of 

 time. Where shelter is necessary, a belt of planting, 50 feet 

 wide, and 30 yards from the fruit-trees, should be prepared. 

 It is advisable, to plant only 25 feet of the belt first, and the 

 remaining 25, about 12 or 15 years afterwards : a close screen 

 is thus secured, for a much longer period, than if all the trees 

 had been planted at once ( 488 ). 



