Jan.] The Fruit G a r d e r^. 29 



about two fpades deep, and if the foil is poor, or very light, 

 and wants augmentation, add a fupply of frelh f^rong earth 

 or compoil, (loam if it can be had) and very rotten dung, 

 as you go on, working them well together; but if only u 

 few trees are wanted at different places, this work need 

 not be performed but on fuch places where the trees are 

 to be planted. 



If an orchard is to be planted, and the foil is but in- 

 ilifferent, it will be of advnnt;ige to add fome very rott-jii 

 dung, and freih loam, or any good earth or compoft the 

 iiioR eafily obty.ined, in each hole where the trees are to 

 Hand; working the eunh, loam, and dung, well together. 



Let the wall and efpalier trees be planted fifteen feet a- 

 funder, at lead, but if eighteen or twenty it will prove of 

 confiderable advantage, by admitting of a larger icope for 

 the horizontal extension of the branches ; and let the iland- 

 ard trees be planted thirty or forty feet diftance. 



P>-oteBhig the Roots of^ and fupportlng^ nev:-plantcd Trees, 



M the weather ihould now prove fevere, it will be proper 

 to inote(ft the roots of new-planted fruit-trees from being 

 jiurt by the froli:, by laying mulch, or long litter, on the 

 lurface of the ground, particularly the choiceft of the flonc- 

 tViiit kinds. 



Support all new planted flandard trees with flakes, and 

 Ut a hay-band be put round the Ilem of the tree, at the 

 pluce where it is to be faflened to the flake, to prevent the 

 bark from being galled. 



Prune old Standard Frult'tree!* 



This is nlfo a proper time to examine your old Handard 

 fruit-trees, to thin them where wanting, and to cut off all 

 dead or irregularly growing branches, and to clean the trees 

 from mofs. See the work of 'Novanher, 



Forcing Fruit-trees for early Fruit, 

 Where there is the accommodation of hot walls, or forc- 

 ing houfes, for raifing early tree fruits, as cherries, peaches, 

 apricots, &c. may now begin to prepare for that bufi- 

 nefs, by ihutting- all the glaffes clofe, and about the end of 

 the month begin to m.ake the fires ; pr in thofe forcing 

 departments where there is a pit in whicli to make a hot- 

 bed of tanner's -bark, or hot horfe-dung, make the hot-bed 

 (irff, and in a fortnight after, let the fires be lighted and 

 C % continued 



