39 
be excessive, and would soon repay its cost over and over again by 
the surplus yield resulting. 
The best time for ploughing is after the autumn rain has 
softened the soil. After ploughing a thorough harrowing should 
be given, and as much couch and noxious weeds as possible removed 
and burnt. 
The land is left in this rough condition all through the winter, 
then harrowed and ploughed crosswise—not subsoiled—late in the 
winter, and prepared for planting by means of more harrowing and 
rolling, if necessary. 
Late ploughing in the winter will leave the ground dirty, as at 
the cross-ploughing a quantity of seeds of weeds will be brought to 
the surface, which will germinate and soon overrun the field; while, 
on the other hand, by early autumn and winter ploughing these 
seeds will germinate and be eradicated before planting time, while 
the land will be given a chance of getting thoroughly sweetened by 
the mellowing action of rain and air during the winter months, also 
the cuttings, as well as rooted plants, will in consequence strike 
better. 
DRAINAGE 
is essential to the healthy growth of fruit trees. In well drained 
orchards the trees develop uniformly, but it often happens that even 
when the natural drainage is good, patches occur where the trees 
go off. There drainage is indicated. 
Damp soil, on which sheep ecantract foot. rot, liver rot or fluke, 
marshy stretches overgrown with rushes, sedge, or other water- 
loving plants, will not, unless properly drained, grow healthy fruit 
trees or vines Marshy patches and water-logged soils are often to 
be met with on level flats or in hollows; occasionally also they oceur 
on hillsides, when a bank of clay or a ledge of rock causes an 
accumulation of water and prevents ils free escape. Whenever such 
conditions occur the soil must be artificially drained. 
Moving water supplying moisture to the roots of plants and 
bringing air and warmth in its train is invigorating and life-giving; 
but stagnant, lifeless water, on the other hand, by favouring the 
decomposition of the organic matter in the soil, makes it sour, 
causes the emission of noxious gases, rots the rootlets of trees, 
limits the depth of soil they are able to feed on, starves them out, 
renders them liable to the attacks of diseases, and is utterly adverse 
to the healthy growth of trees. 
There is a widespread idea that in a dry, warm country, wi'h 
only a scanty rainfall during the growing months, the more water 
the soil retains, the better for the plant. This popular fallacy, how- 
ever, stands no discussion. In the winter or the rainy season, such 
