ORCHARDS. 13 



that will retain moisture, and place it around the tree, 

 treading it down close, so that it shall form a support 

 to the tree. This litter should lie several inches thick 

 after it has been trod doAvn. If you have none of this 

 litter, coarse manure may be used : old stack hay or 

 straw will answer the purpose. This litter must lie 

 here through the season, and be kept trod down close. 

 Now, you need no stake to gall the trees : your litter 

 is a sufficient prop. You need put no water about the 

 roots ; for your litter or coarse hay impedes evaporation 

 to such a degree, that the earth under it will continue 

 moist through the whole summer. If the tree is racked 

 a little by the winds, so much the better : it is thus 

 taught early to rely on itself for support. A staked 

 tree is like a spoiled child, — spoiled with too much 

 nursing. The litter about the tree will prevent the 

 racking by the winds, and the opening of the ground 

 to let the air to the roots, and will save you the trouble 

 of hoeing or tilling for the first year. No weeds will 

 grow under this litter, no grass, — the two great obsta- 

 cles to the extension of the roots. Your soil will thus 

 be kept mellow, and porous, and moist. 



In autumn, before any snow falls, you must remove 

 all the litter that has not become rotten, to a distance 

 from the trees. You will thus give some offence to 

 mice, that are always fond of making their bed, like 

 politicians, close to some towering object that may 

 afford them future support. If your cats have done 

 their duty, and killed off their fresh-meat stock in due 

 time, you have nothing farther to do the first season. 

 But, if your cats have been negligent, and got their 

 rations out of your commissariat rather than glean 

 them abroad in honorable services in the field, you 

 must go out, as soon as the first snow has fallen, and 

 tread it down close about the roots of your trees. 

 Your field-mice must now seek some other habitation, 

 in case they had commenced building as squatters on 

 your soil, and you need be at no further trouble through 

 2* 



