THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



175 



CULTIVATION. 



291. The Cultivation of fruit trees divides itself 

 into two distinct parts ; the management of the tree 

 itself, which consists of pruning and tying ; and 

 the management of the ground where the trees 

 grow^ which consists of digging, hoeing, and ma- 

 nuring. The management of the tree itself differs 

 with the sort of tree ; and, therefore, I shall treat 

 of the management of each sort under its own par- 

 ticular name. But the management of the ground 

 where trees grow is the same in the case of all the 

 larger trees ; and, for that reason, I shall here give 

 directions concerning it. 



292. In the first place, the ground is always to 

 be kept clear of weeds ; for, whatever they take is 

 just so much taken from the fruit, either in quantity, 

 or in quality, or in both. It is true, that very fine 

 orchards have grass covering all the ground be- 

 neath the trees ; but, these orchards would be still 

 finer if the ground were kept clear from all plants 



(i whatever except th'e trees. Such a piece of ground 

 is, at once, an Orchard and a Pasture : what is lost 

 one way is, probably, gained the other. But, if we 

 come to fine and choice fruits, there can be nothing 

 that can grow beneath to balance against the injury 



j done to the trees. 



^ 293. The roots of trees go deep ; , but, the prin- 

 cipal part of their nourishment comes from the top- 

 soil. The ground should be loose to a good depth, 

 which is the certain cause of constant moisture ; but 

 trees draw downwards as w^ell as upwards, and 

 draw^ more nourishment in the former than in the 

 latter direction. Vineyards, as Tull observes, 

 must always be tilled, in some way or other ; or 

 they will produce nothing of value. He adds, that 

 Mr. Evelyn says, that when the soil, wherein 



