FOR PROFIT. 17 



hoed for six years. If an orchard is of Cherries you 

 must not get too close with the plough after the second 

 year, as they root on the surface ; but with Apples, 

 Plums and Pears you can continue horse work for 

 some years, until the trees are of sufficient size and 

 girth to be safe from attacks by sheep, when the land 

 may be laid to permanent pasture, either by sowing 

 in September or April, having previously made a good 

 friable surface. Leaving out for the present the method 

 of putting a cradle to each tree, which can be done 

 afterwards if the land is wanted for a sheep and cattle 

 run, the tree stems can be protected by a few boughs, 

 or better, by an inch-mesh wire netting, which should 

 be firmly attached to two stakes so that the animals 

 cannot move it when rubbing themselves. In Kent 

 we use the blackthorn or whitethorn bushes, which 

 we obtain when cutting underwood ; but even then 

 sheep will be tiresome and apt to bark the trees when 

 keep is low ; they must always be watched. Horses 

 or adult cattle should not be turned in, as they do 

 great damage to young orchards. (See Protection). 



FRUIT PLANTATIONS. The cultivation here differs 

 from orchards. These must be dug annually before 

 Christmas, and require the first prong hoeing in 

 March, and further plate hoeing afterwards once or 

 twice in summer to keep down weeds. There is no 

 objection to horse or donkey work here with a small 

 and light "nidget" or "Planet junior'' machine on 

 the surface; but all digging should be completed before 

 February. It may happen that land which is dug 

 before Christmas will produce a crop of chickweed or 

 summer weeds quite early in spring, this is an 

 indication of good land, and it may be advisable to 



