492 [Assembly 



of the tree is out of its centre. If the position is reversed, the tree is 

 apt to grow crooked, and the bark to become diseased — I find it so in 

 the pippin apple trees. Set out natural stock -to engraft on ; they are 

 hardy. By following this plan I have had fruit from them in six or 

 seven years less time. Take the stocks when of about two inches in 

 diameter, graft on the limbs which are as thick as a thumb, and such 

 stocks and grafts are less subject to any disease. 



By the common method of merely digging a hole through the top 

 soil down to the sub-soil, especially Avhere that is (as is very exten- 

 sively the fact) hardpan, you may pray for the goodly growth of the 

 trees so treated, but your prayer for thrift will be in vain. I can tell 

 which way the last heavy gale has blown, by the leaning of trees so 

 planted. Place a tree near the dividing line between a poor and a 

 rich field, and you will find its roots running away to the rich one, its 

 branches growing over that way, its fruit growing on that side, and 

 when it blows down it will be to the rich land. Plough deep for an 

 orchard, then the roots will enlarge; go deep, and there will be more 

 of those smaller roots so important for the supply of the tree. 



I shall never ceas€ to cry aloud in behalf of a far more extensive 

 use of good ripe fruit, for human health in high vigour, depends upon 

 a free use of fruit, which dilutes the blood, purifies the rebellious liver j 

 and gives spirit to the system ; all the wealth of India and California, 

 cannot pay the man who has a bad liver. I am sensible that I am 

 digressing from the subject before the club ; but so deeply am I im- 

 pressed with the importance of this matter of fruit, I cannot omit any 

 occasion to increase the motives, for universal care in production of 

 fine fruit, to giv.e fine health to man. Fever is warded off by proper 

 use of fruit. It is powerfully anti-septic ; and if you will grow fine 

 fruit, you will find that if you should not have customers enough to 

 buy it, at least you will become an excellent ciisiomer to yourself ! 



The same deep ploughing which I recommended for planting 

 orchards, I also recommend for a plantation of strawberries ; for they 

 will, if they can, send down their roots two feet, and the vines will 

 yield abundantly more fruit, especially in dry seasons. 



