SOIL. 55 



dered in this way deep and fertile for their growth. 

 The manure should be very thoroughly intermixed 

 with the soil by repeated harrowings. The kinds 

 of trees which will not bear so much fertility, are 

 those brought originally from warmer countries, 

 and liable to suffer from the frost of winter ; as the 

 peach, nectarine, and apricot ; for they are stimu- 

 lated to grow too late in the season, and frost 

 strikes them when the wood is immature. 



Clayey and light soils in some cases require op- 

 posite management. The former, for instance, is 

 much benefited by the admixture of chip-dirt, 

 which renders it looser, lighter, and more retentive 

 of moisture. But on light soils the effect is not so 

 beneficial. Hence, while eminent success has at- 

 tended the use of chip-dirt on heavy soils, on dry 

 gravel it has in some cases been found decidedly 

 injurious. 



Peaty and spongy soils are particularly injurious 

 to tender fruits. Such soils become very warm by 

 day, and radiate the heat rapidly in clear frosty 

 nights ; hence peaches and apricots generally perish 

 when growing in them, the heat of the sun promo- 

 ting a rapid succulent growth, which is the more 

 easily destroyed by the succeeding intensity of cold. 



SITUATION. 



Trees of a very hardy nature, such as the apple, 

 will mostly succeed well in any situation, whether 



