36 



tween the trees, or planting on leys, it should be 

 borne in mind that, if to be grazed, it is expensive 

 and difficult to keep the trees protected from the 

 cattle ; and as for mowing continually, it so exhausts 

 the soil, that top-dressings of some kind will become 

 necessary. Hops or green crops would, therefore, 

 seem to be most eligible. 



Before closing with this division of the subject, it 

 will be well to repeat, that a sound and somewhat 

 greasy loam is the most eligible for the apple. It 

 matters little what the shade of colour be ; we would, 

 however, prefer it of a bright yellowish brown, or of 

 a hazel colour, and, by all means, of a uniform cha- 

 racter. It is a well-known fact, according to the 

 Hereford cultivators, that the same sorts from a 

 lighter soil produce inferior cider to those on stiff 

 soils. Pears, on the contrary, for perry purposes, do 

 well on the lighter soils, and the perry is found to be 

 of superior quality. Hence the finest cider and the 

 finest perry are seldom found in the same localities. 



Distance, Mode of Planting, fyc. — No set distance 

 is observed in the regular orchard districts ; the 

 practice varies much in this respect. In many of the 

 Worcester and Hereford orchards they are far too 

 close. We should consider fifteen yards at least as 

 necessary ; whereas in many orchards they will be 

 found as close as sixteen or twenty feet. 



When planted thus close the branches become so 



