SOIL FOR ORCHARDS. 103 



first summer after grafting; from three to four 

 feet, the second summer ; five to six or seven 

 feet the third summer, when many of them will be 

 large enough for removal to the orchard, and most 

 of the remainder in one year more. If suffered to 

 remain longer in the nursery, they should be taken 

 up and set out again, for the purpose of shortening 

 the long roots, without which subsequent trans- 

 planting would be attended with too great a check 

 in the growth, if not actual danger to the tree. 



When young trees are budded, it should be done 

 within two or three inches of the ground, as hand- 

 some trees are produced in this way only ; and 

 they need in other respects precisely the same 

 treatment as grafted trees. 



SOIL FOR ORCHARDS. 



The apple is a vigorous and hardy tree, and will 

 grow upon most soils. It does best however, on 

 such as are deep, rich and good, such as will give 

 good crops of Indian corn. Hard, shallow, and wet 

 grounds, are to be avoided. Improvement by 

 manuring and deep cultivation is desirable, as a 

 material difference in quality and productiveness 

 often results from a difference in fertility. 



DISTANCE. 



Where the quantity of ground is limited, trees 

 may for a time stand within fifteen or twenty feet ; 



