308 WESTERN FRUIT BOOK 



APPROPRIATE LOCATION, SOIL, AND TREAT- 

 MENT OF FRUIT TREES. 



There is yet a very great deal to be learned on these 

 subjects. This knowledge can be only obtained by prac- 

 tical trials and great attention to the particular require- 

 ments, habits, and suitable locality of each kind of fruit. 

 The mechanical and chemical condition of the soil, and 

 its complete drainage, have not met with the consid- 

 eration due to their great importance and value, especially 

 w^hen the land is too compact in its nature, and will not 

 readily carry otf the surplus water. The roots of trees 

 are very apt to be affected in very damp, cold, and hard- 

 pan lands, and diseases will thereby be likely to ensue; 

 deleterious substances being imbibed, and nutriment of a 

 healthy kind can not then be properly elaborated. Too 

 much moisture, and the result, a low temperature, and an 

 imperfect preparation of the soil, will greatly affect the 

 vitalit}^ of the plant, and disorder all its functions. In 

 time, it may be gradually droiciied, if we may be allowed 

 the expression. Numerous derangements, such as the 

 black spots on the fruit, canker, fungous excrescences, 

 and fermentation of the sap, affecting and separating the 

 bark, with numerous other evils, may, probably, arise 

 from this cause. Subsoiling with the plough, and trench- 

 ing with the spade, should go hand in hand with the 

 draining materials, and open the ground to the salutary 

 influences of the air and light to destroy the injurious 

 acidities of the earth, elevate its low temperature, and 

 render available its unexcited riches. It has been stated 

 by a writer of high authorit}-, that he frequently found 

 the soil of a well-drained field higher by the thermometer. 



