APPLE TREE. 



19: 



As to situation and aspect, that is not of much impor- 

 tance, especially for apple, pear and other hardy fruit 

 trees ; for you will find these growing and bearing froit 

 in the greatest perfection, in every aspect where the 

 soil is suitable, and proper care taken of the trees. — 

 But a moderately low situation, iVee from wet, may be 

 more eligible than an elevated ground, as being less ex- 

 posed to tempestuous winds; a gentle declivity is the 

 most desirable, it will be most advisable for the far- 

 mer to make use of uneven grounds, and let those which 

 are level be reserved for the plough. 



Transplanting. The proper season for planting, will 

 be found to depend on a variety of circumstances — in 

 light soils, fhe winter settles the earth round the roots, 

 and best secures them against the drought of the follow- 

 ing season — and it is a time of leisure to the farmer. 

 In stiif or wet soils, spring planting is considered best. 

 If transplanted in the fall, it should be done in October, 

 or as soon as the foilage falls oft* ; if in the spring, as 

 soon as the buds begin to swell, or rather a little before. 



The distance between trees should be such as to pre- 

 Tent the extreme branches from locking into each other 

 when attained to full maturit}'^ of growth. We are not 

 to expect that the quantity of fruit will be in propor- 

 tion to the number of trees in an orchard ; for a few 

 trees of large size will produce more and better fruit, 

 than six or eight times the number of those v/hich grow 

 near and crowd one another. The most generally ap- 

 proved distance is forty feet. 



To remove a ^ree, though young, is a severe test ; 

 and, therefore, every thing should be done to render 

 the shock as little injurious as possible. It is recom- 

 mended to prepare the ground with diligence before the 

 trees are planted ; by deep ploughing, and the cultiva- 

 tion of such hoed crops as will not exhaust the soli. 

 The holes should be dug a considerable time before the 

 trees are planted ; if the trees are to be planted in the 

 spring the holes should be dugin the fnll. They should 

 be five or six feet in diameter, and the spade must be 

 carried to the full depth of the soil ; and if it be gravel- 

 ly, a considerable portion of this should be removed, 

 and its place supplied by a due quantity of rich mould. 

 In digging the holes, throw the top of the earth into a 



