io TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



with fine fresh loam, or the mould that was used the preceding 

 year for melon and cucumber beds ; and be careful to keep the 

 mould a proper height above the border, and the roots of your 

 trees as near the surface as possible, spreading them horizon- 

 tally. If there are any tap-roots they should always be cut off, 

 as should also the fine hairy roots, as they are liable to get 

 mould3/ and rot, and thereby bring on a putrefaction of the 

 mould about the root of the tree. If the roots are not spread 

 near the surface of the ground, it will prevent the sun and air 

 from penetrating to them ; and the fruit, of course, will not 

 have so fine a flavour. 



Never cut the stems of young Plum-trees when first plant- 

 ed, but leave them till the buds begin to break ; then you may 

 head them down to five or more eyes, always observing to 

 leave an odd one for the leading shoot: remember to cut slop- 

 ing towards the wall, and as near to an eye as possible. Thus 

 managed, the shoots will soon fill the wall with fine wood. If 

 5'ou find that some of the shoots are too luxuriant, you may 

 pinch the tops off with your finger And thumb, about the be- 

 ginning of j une in the first year after planting ; by doing which 

 you Vv411 obtain plenty of wood to fill the bottom of the walL 

 A great deal depends on the first and second year's manage- 

 ment of your trees. 



The distance from each other at which Plum-trees should 

 be planted against a wall depends on the height of the wall. If 

 the wall be ten feet high, which is the common height they 

 may be planted at eight yards distance from tree to tree ; but 

 if the vv'all be twelve feet high, or more, seven yards will be 

 sufficient. For my part, I prefer a wall of ten or twelve feety 

 which will be found high enough, if the branches are trained 

 horizontally; by which means your trees will be much more 

 fruitful, and not grow soluxuriandy. 



By training, an upright shoot on your Plums, as directed 

 for Pears, you will get fine kind shoots from the sides. The 

 leading shoot should be shortened, leaving it from one to two 

 feet long, according to its strength. If the leading shoot be 

 very strong, you may top it twice in the summer, as directed 

 for Pears, and at the same time that you top them ; repeating 

 the same ever}^ year till the wall is filled to the top. I would 

 always recommend, where it is convenient, to allot one wall 

 for Plums and another for Cherries, as they always thrive best 

 by themselves. 



As you will have Plum-trees to spare, that were planted 

 between Pear-trees, when they begin to meet, they should be 

 planted against another wall, or planted out as Dwarf Stand- 



