STANDARD ORCHABD TREES 141 



the soil and the progress they have made, a more cer- 

 tain rule to lay down is, that as soon as the outside 

 roots of the trees touch each other the temporary trees 

 should be removed. I need scarcely write the usual 

 directions as to the trees being fenced round if horses 

 and cows are turned into the orchard — that the trees 

 should have stems at least six feet in height, and the 

 lower branches should be taken off as soon as they 

 become depressed enough for cattle to browse on them. 

 One direction I feel, however, bound to give : a circle 

 from three to four feet in diameter round each tree 

 should be kept clear of grass and weeds for at least 

 five years from the time of planting ; after that period 

 grass may be allowed to cover all the surface as in old 

 orchards. 



In preparing the slips by trenching, if the subsoil 

 be poor and stony, it should not be brought to the 

 surface but be merely turned over with the spade, and 

 some manure mixed with it, replacing the turf and 

 keeping the loose mould on the surface. If the soil be 

 wet, drains four feet deep should be made twenty-four 

 feet apart, one in the centre of the space between each 

 row of trees ; they should be made by careful work- 

 men, and filled in with bushes if drain pipes are not at 

 hand ; before the drain is closed, it should be left open 

 for the examination of the master and carefully proved. 

 The soils best adapted for orchard trees are, first, loams 

 with a subsoil of lime-stone ; second, loams resting on 

 a dry stony subsoil; third, loams resting on clay — 



