154 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



notch them as in the cut, boring a hole at the upper 

 end to hitch to; the notches should be 8 inches apart 

 and 2 inches deep ; now nail cross planks on the two 

 notched bed pieces, using the same sized pieces, 2x8 

 and 6 or 7 feet long ; let the cross planks project 1 

 foot at each end over the bed pieces. If more weight 

 is needed to fine the clay lumps, the driver can ride 

 the float, or weights can be placed on it. I go over 

 with this float when seeding to grass, and also in 

 fitting strawberry ground. I prefer it to a roller, as 

 it leaves the surface smooth and fine."* 



SUGGESTIONS FOB THE TILLING OF FRUIT -LANDS. 



Lands which enjoy perfect natural drainage are 

 particularly desirable for orchards, because they are 

 not only warm and give up their fertility easily, 

 but because they also allow of very early cultivation, 

 which is an important requisite in the management 

 of orchards. If this perfect natural drainage does 

 not exist, tile-drainage should be employed until the 

 soil is brought into the best possible condition. It 

 should be said that many hard and wet soils make 

 excellent pear and plum lands when thoroughly tile- 

 drained. It is a common opinion that only flat lands 

 need draining, but one often finds rolling lands in 

 which the subsoil is high and hard, and holds the 

 water like a dish -pan. Judicious draining not 

 only carries off the superfluous water, but it also 



*H. L. Barton, in Fruit; quoted in Market Garden, Apr., 1897. 



