CULTURE, ETC. 245 



and on no account should any white straw crops, or grasses 

 be introduced, at least for several years, nor until the 

 orchard shall have become well established. In many 

 species of fruits, it is undoubtedly better to keep up the 

 surface cultivation continuously, at least wherever tho 

 characters of the site and soil will permit it ; but there 

 are many situations where the abruptness of the declivities 

 appropriated to fruit-growing, and often admirably adapt- 

 ed to such purpose, absolutely forbid continued cultiva- 

 tion. In such places it will be necessary soon to withdraw 

 the plow, and to depend upon loosening the soil about the 

 trees with the spade or fork, and upon the mellowing and 

 meliorating effects of mulching. The expense of all the 

 operations that are performed by human labor renders 

 them inapplicable, except in small orchards and gardens ; 

 and in all large plantations we must depend upon the com- 

 mon earth-workers that are drawn by horses. Among 

 these, a preference should be given to such as stir and 

 pulverize the soil near the surface only ; shallow culture 

 of the upper layers of earth effects the objects in view 

 better than that which is deeper. The intruding weeds 

 are subdued and a mellow condition of the earth is the 

 result, while the roots are not torn and bruised, but are 

 encouraged to turn their feeding fibres into the stratum 

 of mellow soil above them. When the trees have become 

 well established, or when the nature of the soil and the 

 broken character of the surface of the orchard require it, 

 we may seed down the ground with clover, which is pre- 

 ferred to any of the grasses : the broad foliage will shade 

 the ground, and may remain on the surface as a mulch, or 

 be moderately pastured by suitable stock. 



