THE ORCHARD. 305 



and render the surface dry and liealthy. If pas- 

 ture, the turf may be first pared oft\ and afterwards 

 re-laid when the furrow is made. 



In orchards, where cattle are not permitted to 

 go, I would prefer dwarf-trees to standards, taking 

 care to proportion the distance of the rows to the 

 size of the trees. But in orchards kept for pas- 

 ture, it will be necessary to plant standards. 



Burning of rotten wood, weeds, potatoe haulm, 

 wet straw, &c. on the windward side of the trees 

 when they are in blossom, will be found a good 

 preservative from blights, caterpillars, &c. 



I would recommend washing the trees annually, 

 in the month, of February or March, with the fol- 

 lowing mixture, which will destroy the eggs of in- 

 sects, and prevent moss from growing on the 

 trunks and branches : it will also help to nourish 

 the tree, keep the bark fine and healthy ; and will 

 have the same effect on it as a top dressing has up- 

 on grass land. 



Mix fresh cow-dung with urine and soap-suds, 

 and with this mixture wash over the stems and 

 branches of the trees, as a white-washer w^ould 

 wash the cieling or walls of a room ; taking care 

 to cut off all the cankery parts, and to scrape off all 

 the moss, before you lay the mixture on. In the 

 course of the Spring or Summer, you will see a 

 fine new bark coming on. When the old bark is 

 cankery, you must pare it off with a draw-knife, or 

 such a long knife as I have had made on purpose, 

 especially for wall-trees, where the draw^-knife can- 



X 



