54 FRUIT CULTURE. 



ners which will allow single specimens. It is a 

 prevailing impression that the fruit of branches 

 which overhang a neighbor's land belongs to 

 him. But this is a mistake; he has a riglit 

 to remove the limbs, but the fruit is yours, 

 though it is doubtful if you have a right to enter 

 his land for the purpose of picking. If the tree 

 stands upon the line, the rights of course are 

 mutual, and neither party can injure the tree 

 without consent. Your neighbor cannot com- 

 plain of shade, or dampness from trees upon 

 your land, however near they may be to the line, 

 but he may cut the roots which penetrate his 

 land. It is unnecessary to add, that a purpose 

 to insist upon legal rights among neighbors will 

 bear only fruits of bitterness. 



Apple trees are supposed to need little care 

 after planting, and therefore are frequently left 

 to receive only an annual scraping and pruning 

 in March. This is the reason why so large a pro- 

 portion of our orchards are in such a stunted con- 

 dition. No tree better repays generous culture. 

 It will better endure a grass sward than the pear, 

 but this should not be allowed to be thick or ex- 

 hausting. An annual surface dressing of stable 

 manure, in November, say half of a one horse- 

 load to each tree of full size, will keep it in per- 

 manent vigor. Pruning of all suckers and of 



