12 



surface, midway between the rows. Some of the beneficial 

 effects of drainage may be mentioned : . . ,..-, ,,, ,, 



1. Soil is made warmer. 



2. Solution of plant food is less diluted, more concen- 

 trated, 



3. Free access of air, increased oxidation, fermentation 

 and absorption of ammonia. 



4. Roots can penetrate deeper. 



5. Removal of injurious matters, as iron oxide, etc. 



6. Plant food more evenly distributed. 



7. Sub-soil is improved in texture. 



8. ■ Increases the number of capillary space". 



9. Gives an opportunity for earlier cultivation. 



10. Guards against the evils of excessive drought, and 

 also against the evils o? excessive rains. ' 



11. Prevents loss by surface washing. 



No province need.s draining more than our own. Many 

 means are available to prevent the bad effects of drought; 

 draining alone can save us from the evils of an over-abun- 

 dant rainfall. 



- - ' ■ : i PLOUGHING. 



The gi ^und .should be well-ploughed the fall before, and 

 as deeply as possible ; and the manure well harrowed in 

 until the .soil is made fine and thoroughly mixed with the 

 manure. If then it is ploughed again in the spring, and 

 again thoroughly harrowed, the whole will be in a fine 

 condition for the reception of trees. This is the best and 

 cheapest way of preparing the land; for the ,s "-, long, 

 and healthy shoots that will grow up even the tii'st 3'ear, 

 and the size, beauty and richness of the fruit soon afforded 

 by such an orchard kept well cultivated during its early 

 years, will astonish tho.se who have never seen anything 

 but slipshod culture. 



If the whole field cannot be deepened, a strip of land 

 ten feet wide may be treated in this way, in the centre of 

 which the trees may be planted, and the remainder of the 

 field may be deepened in the same way by the time the 

 roots have passed the boundaries of the first. 



Jijv^rt vf;:; ' laying out the orchard. - , r. t. rrf; 



Everyone will admit that an orchard regularly laid out 

 is better in every respect than where the trees are in 

 crooked lines. An owner can feel no pride in giving proper 

 cultivation to an irregularly planted orchard, and trees 



A* 



