Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 55 



Art. II. Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 

 Vol. IV. Part II. 



{Continued from Vol. VI. p. 69) 



23. Account of a new Mode of planting and cidiivating Fruit Trees, 

 tvith a View to prevent Canker, and to procure well-ripened Fruit. 

 By Mr. Archibald Reid, Gardener to the Hon. Robert Lindsay, 

 at Balcarras, by Colingsburgh. Read Dec 2. 1824, and Nov. 2. 

 1827. 



This paper is of considerable importance, as clearly proving 

 one cause of canker in fruit trees, and pointing out an effectual 

 remedy. An orchard at Balcarras, in Fifeshire, containing 

 above two acres, was stocked with fruit trees much infested 

 with canker: their roots were examined, and found clean, 

 healthy though but few in number, and without fibres. They 

 had generally run to the depth of 3 ft., the depth to which 

 the ground was trenched ; and they would probably have 

 run still deeper, but that a space under each tree was paved. 

 Mr. Reid, in making experiments, found, " during the summer 

 months, the average heat at 6 in. to be 61° ; at 9 in., 57° ; at 

 1 8 in., 50° ; and at 3 ft. deep, 44° Fahr. : he therefore concluded, 

 from these experiments, that if the roots could be retained 

 near the surface, they would be in a more favourable situation 

 than when allowed to run 2 ft. or more down in the soil. In 

 autumn 1813, a few of the diseased trees, of about ten years' 

 standing, were dug up and planted as near the surface as their 

 roots would admit. These have continued ever since to im- 

 prove, and are now (1827) bearing annually good crops, and 

 are perfectly free from canker." 



Preparation, in the mean time, was made for replanting 

 with young trees within a few inches of the surface. A rich 

 loamy soil was got together, and laid down in heaps of about 

 a cubic yard to a tree. 



" The ground having been previously trenched to about 2 ft. deep, and 

 the distances of the trees marked out, a stake of from 3 to 4 ft. long was 

 driven in the ground, about 6 in. north from the site intended for the stem 

 of the tree, where a circle of 6 ft. diameter was drawn, and the soil within 

 it was removed to the depth of 2 in. The place was then beat with a 

 wooden rammer, and made as firm and smooth as possible, and of an equal 

 depth all over. Before planting the tree the roots were carefully examined, 

 and all bruised or broken parts cut off, leaving the slope upwards. The 

 tree being placed at 6 in. south of the stake, one person held the stem fast, 

 while 1 spread out the roots on the beaten surface of the circle, placing, if 

 possible, the greater part of their extremities to the south ; the tree was 

 then pressed gently down, in order to make the roots rest close on the sur- 

 face. As soon as the roots were adjusted, a third person laid on the fine 

 mould, which I carefully distributed among the roots, pressing it with the 

 hand till the roots were all covered. The remainder of the mould was 



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