TREATISE ON THE CULTURE, &c. 153 



and disperse the fogs), which will render the trees healthy, 

 and give a fine flavour to the fruit. An orchard should also be 

 well sheltered from the East, North, and Westerly winds, by 

 plantations, if not naturally sheltered by rising grounds. These 

 plantations of forest-trees should neither be too large nor too 

 near the orchard ; as they would in that case prevent a free 

 circulation of the air, which would prove injurious to the fruit- 

 trees. But, if the ground will not admit of such plantations, 

 I would advise planting cross rows of fruit-trees, as directed 

 for gardens. I would also recommend planting some of the 

 largest growing trees nearest the outsides exposed to those 

 winds ; two or three rows of which should be planted closer 

 than ordinary, which would greatly shelter those in the interior 

 parts of the orchard. Walnut aud chesnut trees, as has been 

 already observed, are well adapted for this purpose. 



As to the size of an orchard, it may be from one to 

 twenty acres, or more, according to the quantity of fruit want- 

 ed, or the quantity of ground that you may have fit for the 

 purpose. 



That soil which produces good crops of corn, grass, or 

 garden vegetables, will also do for an orchard ; but a loamy 

 soil is to be preferred ; though any of a good quality, not too 

 light or dry, nor wet, heavy, or stubborn, but of a mode- 

 rately soft and pliant nature, will be found to answer the end. 

 Shingly and gravelly soils disagree very much with fruit-trees, 

 unless there be loam intermixed*. They will succeed much 

 better on a chalk bottom. On such a soil, I have seen roots 

 twelve feet deep, and trees thrive well. If the bottom be clay, 

 the roots should be cut in once in four years to prevent them 

 from penetrating the clay, which would greatly injure the 

 trees. The soil should be from two to three feet deep ; be- 

 fore planting the trees, it should be trenched two spits deep, 

 and ten feet broad where the rows are to be planted, and a spit 

 below loosened, unless it be clay, which should be trodden 

 down. If it be pasture ground, it should be ploughed, and 

 well summer-fallowed, till the grass be killed, otherwise when 

 it is laid in the bottom in trenching, which it generally is, it 

 will be very apt to breed grubs, which will do much mischief. 



* Where no better is to be had, the holes should be dug at least three 

 feet deep, and filled up with good mould ; if mixed up with rotten dung, rot- 

 ten leaves, or other manure, the trees will in time amply repay the expence. 

 The dung used for this purpose should be that from the melon and cucumber 

 beds, mixed with the mould from the same, when the beds are broken up in 

 autumn, or winter; it should be laid up in heaps, and continue so for one 

 year at least; but should be frequently turned and have some good fresh mould 

 mixed with it. 



