APPLE TREE. 



IGT 



JYurseri/. Ever}'' planter ouirlit to raise liis own trees, 

 that the removal may be easily effected without the 

 roots becoming dry, that the tree may be continued in 

 nearly the same kind of soil and atmo«;phere in which it 

 originated ; and that there may be no hazard respect- 

 ing the kind of fruit intended to be phmted. The first 

 step therefore, tovvards obtaining a good orchard, is to 

 create a good nursery. Respecting tiie soil suitable for 

 a nursery, there is among writers, a considerable diver- 

 sity of opinion. Some think it the better plan, to make 

 a nursery on such ground as is but illy suited to the 

 growth of the trees to be raised ; for, by afterwards 

 placing them in a soil that is natural to them, they will 

 grow more thriftily than trees raised in a nursery where 

 the soil is suitable to their growth. Others are of opin- 

 ion that the soil should be rich, tor the vigor of a young 

 tree, say they, is one of its most valuable properties; 

 no cultivation or soil will effectually overcome the want 

 of it; trees will seldom fail even when removed to a 

 soil of different character from the nursery wherein 

 tliey were raised, if they have the benefit of good cul- 

 tivation and good soil ; these will produce a correspon- 

 dent effect on the growth of the tree wherever raised. 

 This is a subject, on which, as Sir i?oger de Coverhj says, 

 much may be said on both sides ; the deci?ion of which, 

 with that of several such cases occurring before, we 

 submit to the umpirage of experiment. 



We agree with a late writer in opinion, that the soil 

 ought to be naturally good, for at least one full spade 

 deep, or if more, the better; that a loamy soil, of a 

 moderately light temperament is best, and that it cannot 

 naturally be too good. It is very wrong to enrich nur- 

 series with dung^ particularly until it is very old, and 

 almost turned into earth. It is not absolutely necessary 

 that the soil should be exceedingly rich, nor over care- 

 fully manured : a medium between the two extremes 

 is best ; such as any good substantial garden-ground ; or 

 good mellow pasture land. The situation most favour- 

 able, is a piece of level ground, neither wet nor dry, 

 free from stones, in an open situation, where fruit trees 

 have not lately grown, or indeed any other deep-rooted 

 plants. Let the ground be ploughed very deeply early 

 in the fall, and be well mellowed : and plant ike seeds 



