290 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



much celebrated for the excellence of the herbs they 

 cultivate and prepare, dispose of large quantities 

 yearly, first compressing them in dense masses, and 

 then dividing them into small parcels for the market. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE FRUIT-GARDEN. 



Choice of Soils. — Exposure. — Transplanting. — Seedlings.— 

 Graftuig and Budding. 



The preceding chapter was devoted to a descrip- 

 tion of the farmers' kitchen garden, and a list of 

 such plants and vegetables as will be found most 

 useful in occupying it ; the present will be devoted 

 to the no less essential part of every farm, the fruit- 

 garden or orchard. Few there are, whether farmers 

 or others, who cannot find a spot for a few trees 

 about their dwellings, and nothing can contribute 

 more to the health, comfort, and pleasure of a fam- 

 ily than to have such a spot, however limited, oc- 

 cupied with choice fruit-trees ; and thus, by care in 

 the selection of varieties, some of the most impor- 

 tant fruits may be had in perfection the year round. 

 Nothing can excuse, in any one who has the means, 

 inattention to the fruit-garden or the orchard ; and 

 among those who are possessed of these, nothing 

 but ignorance or a want of taste could tolerate the 

 inferior fruits that so much abound, while the finest 

 varieties may be obtained and cultivated with equal 

 ease. 



As in the kitchen-garden, so in the fruit-garden, 

 the first thing to be attended to in its formation is 

 the selection of a suitable soil and its preparation. 

 As a general rule, it may be remarked, that no soil 



