714 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to be a hazel loam, of the depth of three feet. Doubtless this 

 is true, but it is not every one whose land is of this quality, or 

 who can render it so, without burdensome expense. The 

 apple, in fact, is far from fastidious, and though in this, as in 

 most other cases, the deeper the mould the better, yet the tree 

 will grow well in almost any soil which is not very light and 

 poor. The best ground seems to be an old grass field which 

 has been previovisly broken up and cultivated for a year or 

 two, as there are few better manures for any fruit trees than 

 the sod itself, when well rotted. 



Where the planter has the choice, a hill side seems better 

 than a level, as affording a fairer exposure to all the trees, 

 insuring a better drainage, and securing them against the un- 

 seasonable frosts, which are most apt to seize first on plants 

 in the low grounds.* It seems to be fully agreed, that before 

 the trees are set out, the whole field should be stirred to the 

 depth at least of fifteen or sixteen inches. The most effectual 

 way of doing this is, unquestionably, by trenching with the 

 spade. But this cannot be done, even if no manure be dug 

 in, at a less expense than fifty dollars per acre, a sum which, 

 in most districts of New England, is much more than the 

 whole value of the land. Still, this is only to be done once, 

 and it is far from certain that the expenditure would be un- 

 profitable. 



The same object, however, may be secured to a great extent 

 by subsoiling, which can be effected at a quarter part of the 

 cost. The soil below is thus broken up, without being brought 

 to the surface, and the whole bed of the orchard rendered light 

 and easy to be penetrated, both sideways and downward, by 

 the young roots of the trees. It is a question often asked, 

 whether the ground of an orchard should be tilled, or merely a 

 circle cleared from grass round the stem of the tree. The lat- 

 ter course, though little countenanced by writers, is^joften prac- 

 tised, probably from an unwillingness to sacrifice the hay crop, 

 and a belief that the circle round the tree, if kept properly 

 stirred, will afford sufficient room for the growth of the 'roots. 



* While any slope seems preferable to a level, a southern one is, I think, less eligi- 

 ble than either an eastern or northern one. On a southern slope, the trees often 

 prolong their yearly growth too far into the autumn, and the young wood, in conse- 

 quence, is less perfectly ripened, and suffers from the subsequent cold. 



