176 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



[Chap. 



fruit-trees are planted, is constantly kept in tillage, 

 they grow up to an Orchard in half the time, they 

 would do, if the soil were not tilled." Therefore, 

 tillage is useful ; but, it were better, that there were 

 tillage without under crops; for these crops take 

 away a great part of the strength that the manure 

 and tillage bring. V 



294. Now, then, as to the trees in my garden ; 

 they are to be choice peaches, nectarines, apricots, 

 plums, cherries, and grape vines, with a very few 

 apples and pears. The sorts will be mentioned 

 hereafter in the Alphabetical list ; but, the tillage 

 for all except the grape vines, is the same ; and the 

 nature of that exception will be particularly stated i1 

 under the name of grape. • j 



295. It was observed before, that the ground is \ 

 always to be kept clear of weeds. From the spring ] 

 to the fall frequent hoeing all the ground over, j 

 not only to keep away weeds but to keep the 1 

 ground moist in hot and dry weather, taking care 

 never to hoe but when the ground is dry at top. 

 This hoeing should not go deeper than four or five 

 inches ; for, there is a great difference between 

 trees and herbaceous plants as to the renewal of | 

 their roots respectively. Cut off the lateral roots • 

 of a cabbage, or a turnip, of a wheat or a rye or an | 

 Indian-corn plant, and new roots, from the parts [ 

 that remain, come out in 12 hours, and the opera- 

 tion, by multiplying the mouths of the feeders of 

 the plant, gives it additional force. But, the roots 

 of a tree consist of wood, more or less hard ; they 

 do not quickly renew themselves : they are of a ^ 

 permanent nature : and they must not be much mu- ^ 

 tilated during the time that the sap is in the flow. 



296. Therefore, the ploughing between trees or * 

 the digging between trees ought to take place only 



