THE ORCHARD. 



323 



sibly necessary to the success of Orchard 

 trees that the bottom be dry, if it be not na- 

 turally so, it must be made so. The extra 

 expense caused by making it dry, will soon 

 be repaid by the fertility of the trees. And 

 they will continue to bear fruit many years 

 after such trees as were planted at the same 

 time in soil with a wet bottom. When it 

 is necessary to make the bottom dry by 

 draining, it must be done half a year before 

 the time when the trees are to be planted. 

 In performing this work, the ground (as in 

 all cases) must be trenched, and when the 

 trench is open, stones or brick bats, &c. must 

 be laid over the bottom to the thickness of 

 six inches, a little of coal ashes or small 

 gravel must be sprinkled over the top of the 

 stones, &c. and then the surface be gently 

 rolled. Also drains must be made in dif- 

 ferent directions so that any excess of mois- 

 ture can be taken entirely away from the 

 ground. The natural richness or poverty 

 of the soil will point out the necessity or 

 otherwise, of mixing some well rotted cow's 

 dung amongst it. But more immediately 

 about the roots of newly planted trees, 

 always mix a portion of manure as described, 

 taking care that it is well incorporated with 

 the soil, for if left in large masses, it is inju- 

 rious to the trees. In planting a tree, 

 never place the roots deeper than is abso- 

 lutely necessary for supporting it, eight 



