GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



19 



pear, for it seldom thrives well and fruits in perfec- 

 tion but in a low, moist situation, where the soil is 

 naturally rich or made so by adding plenty of ma- 

 nure to it ; in such places the plum does well in 

 most parts of the Union. The cherry, on the con- 

 trary, will accommodate itself to almost any loca- 

 tion, soil, or aspect in any part of the northern 

 states, providing it is not winter killed which is 

 sometimes the case with the tender kinds, but side 

 hills and dry sandy bottoms are best adapted to the 

 health and produce of the cherry. 



Every fruit indeed, will be found to have a natural 

 tendency to a peculiar soil and location, which I 

 shall endeavor to describe under the different heads 

 of culture, as I proceed. 



A mismanagement is also often very apparent in 

 planting trees, which in many cases is badly done, 

 and s the result of retarding their growth when 

 young in a manner that they never fully expand into 

 a full growth and vigor ; and hence the cause of so 

 many stunted trees, that are to be seen in almost 

 every place. In many cases, fruit trees are much 

 crippled in their early stage of growth, by allow- 

 ing them to bear a quantity of fruit the first year 

 after planting, by which their vigor and vital princi- 

 ple is in a certain degree exhausted, and the tree 

 never afterwards assumes that habit it would other- 

 wise have attained. To the above, may be added 

 the general neglect of pruning and thinning the 

 branches of trees, and regulating them in such a 

 manner that the sap has a regular flow to all and 

 every part of them, their leaves, flowers and fruit. 



Under the head of culture, one very essential 

 consideration should always be borne in mind by the 



