32 



ties ; the limits of this work (were such at all desir- 

 able) would by no means permit such a course. 

 Indeed, some of the practices in those districts are 

 not such as can by any means be backed by first-rate 

 horticulturists of the present day ; having arisen 

 through mere expediency, and frequently betraying 

 a lamentable ignorance of those first principles which 

 it is absolutely necessary to understand in order to 

 carry out any art to the perfection of which it is 

 capable. 



We will, however, advert occasionally to some of 

 those practices, in order to throw additional light on 

 the subject. 



The subject will arrange itself under the following 

 heads : — 



1st. Preparation of orchard sites. 

 2nd. Mode of planting, distance, &c. 

 3rd. Under crops in the earlier stages. 

 4th. Pruning, top-dressing, renovation of decaying 

 trees, &c. &c. 



Preparation of Orchard Sites. — There is, we are 

 given to understand, very little attention paid to the 

 preparation of soils for orchards. Here is plain proof 

 of how much these things are capable of improve- 

 ment ; for if it is necessary to carry out a complete sys- 

 tem of drainage for the ordinary agricultural crops, it 



