60 APPLE ORCHARDS. 



Alluvial soils have been talked of, (ir soils composed of vegetable 

 matter, found upon the banks of rivers, washed down from the hills. 

 In this kind of soil trees make a rapid growth, but the fruit is said 

 not to mature as well or be so highly flavored as in soils more 

 calcarious. 



It may also be objectionable to put out orchards, in this soil 

 where the valleys are deep as the late frosts of spring might de- 

 stroy the fruit buds, or the early frosts of autumn injure the fruit. 



Soil of argillaceous formation and black surface soil are proba- 

 bly among the best for apples and pears, although the trees may 

 not make so rapid growth, yet they are more hardy and the fruit 

 of higher flavor. 



It is said by some of our best orchardists that clay is almost 

 indispensable for the growth of apples and pears ; it is probably for 

 want of this ingredient in the subsoil that the Baldwin does not 

 mature before the fruit falls from the trees ; therefore, in selecting 

 fields for orchards, judgment should be exercised in relation to the 

 subsoil as well as the surface : if the subsoil be of such character 

 as to retain the water it should be underdrained before transplanting, 

 for when water stands and becomes stagnant, as most certainly it will 

 at the depth of twelve or fifteen inches, thus far will roots extend, 

 but they refuse to go farther ; at this stage the tree assumes a sick- 

 ly appearance ; now, if drains be cut to the depth of thirty or thir- 

 ty-six inches, the water will be removed to that depth, thus open- 

 ing passages in the soil for the roots to make their researches at 

 pleasure, which again gives health and vigor to the tree. By drain- 

 ing soils that are impervious to water is in effect giving a new soil 

 to the tree ; for when once freed from constant pressure of stag- 

 nant water causes the soil to become drier, sweeter, looser, and 

 more friable. 



Preparation of Soil. — The year previous to transplanting, 

 the field should be ploughed deep and well manured, and cultivated 

 with some hoed crops ; at the time the trees are '^ set out," the field 

 should again be well ploughed and manured. In laying out and 

 staking the grounds the rows should be at least two rods distant, 

 and the trees in the rows the same ; if placed at a less distance or 

 only twenty-five feet, as has been done in many cases, in twenty 

 years the branches will interlock and produce less fruit and of 

 poorer quality ; and finally prove an injury to the orchard. 



Tlie holes for transplanting should not be less than two feet 

 deep and six feet in diameter, and filled with compost made from 



