214 GENERAL DIRECTIONS 



employ the fork or hoe fork, fig. 179, which is less 

 liable to cut the roots. The digging should be per- 

 formed every year immediately after pruning. 



Tig. 179. Hoe Fork. 



It is a common practice to grow vegetables upon 

 fruit-tree borders ; but it is a bad one, for the numerous 

 diggings to which the ground is subjected will con- 

 stantly expose the roots of the trees to mutilation. 

 Besides, the vegetables absorb nearly all the nutriment 

 of the soil. At all events, we should confine the prac- 

 tice to the growth of such vegetables as least exhaust 

 the soil, such as salads. Above all, avoid planting 

 cabbage. 



Manuring. It is not desirable to manure fruit trees 

 very abundantly until they have attained their intended 

 dimensions, otherwise the production of fruit will be 

 retarded. Some manure every three years, but the 

 practice is wrong, for it compels the use of too much 

 manure at a time, and the fruit contracts a bad flavour, 

 and stone fruits, especially peaches, are liable to the 

 gum disease from this cause. It is better to manure a 

 little at a time every year. 



