60 DIRECTIONS FOR CULTURE, &€. 



trate. Cold, compact clciy, and wet soils do not suit, and in such the growth is feeble and! 

 the trees short lived. | 



The Ptcck succeeds best in a rich light sandy loam, but will conform itself to almost 

 any soil that is friable and kept in a cultivated state. The crops of fruit will be always in 

 ratio to the attention given to culture and to the appropriate manurings, which should on 

 no account be neglected. 



The Nectarine, Apricot, and Almond, require a precisely similar soil and culture as 

 prescribed fur the Peach. The JSectarine is equally hardy, and the two latter nearly as 

 much so. 



The Plum adapts itself readily to almost any soil and situation, and will flourish any 

 where except in a clay, marshy, or very sandy location. A rich friable soil is however to 

 be preferred, and where not so, it should be made so by culture. 



The Cherries which comprise the cultivated varieties claim a two fold parentage, and 

 there is a diflerence in habit connected therewith. Those of the Heart and Bigarreau 

 classes have perpendicular roots and require a deep soil, vhereas the Duke and lilorello 

 classes have horizontal roots and require a soil of but moderate depth. With this dis- 

 tinction both divisions readily accommodate themselves to a variety of soils, and will suc- 

 ceed any where but in a clay, a very arid, or very wet location. That which is preferable, 

 however, above all others is a light, rich, sandy loam. 



The Qvince flourishes most in a moist soil. that is rich and friable, but readily accom- 

 modates itself to any apland soil that is not dry and sandy, but it is requisite to be con- 

 stantly cultivated to insure a thrifty growth and large fruit. 



The Grape requires a deep friable soil, and an exposure in accordance to the class to 

 which it belongs, the foreign varieties alone requiring a particularly warm location. No 

 Fruit willadmit of such plentiful manurings as this, provided it be properly applied, the pro- 

 duce of fruit will be thereby immensely increased, and those who say the development prO' 

 duced is in wood without fiuit are in a state of ignorance. Decomposed vegetable or ani- 

 mal manures, and above all rhe blood of cattle frcm the butcher's stall, plentifully and fre- 

 quently mingled with the earth at a short distance from the main stalk of the vine, will 

 cause a degree of vigor and productiveness that will astonish all who have not witnessed 

 their effects. — In regard to pruning, the American varieties simply require such thinning 

 out during the winter, as is necessary to prevent the branches injuring each other by con^ 

 tact, and the removal of such weak spurs as are immature and imperfect ; but no fear 

 should be indulged that the vine if in a good soil, is not capable of maturing its fruit oe 

 any extent of branches it may naturally proc'uce, as among the most productive vines 

 found in Carolina-; there are many instances where a single vine covers an acre. Summer 

 pruning is only called for in locations where the vines are confined in too narrow limits 

 and then but very partially, as a.ny considerable pruning will cause the fruit to turn black 

 and fall oif, and even cutting off the leaves will prevent the maturity of the fiuit as they 

 are the conductors of the essential nutriment from the atmosphere to the fruit and to the 

 whole plant. The foreign varieties being natives of a much milder climate require con- 

 siderable pruning, and but a moderate proportion of the vigorous shoots should be allow- 

 ed to remain, it being necessary in this case to substitute skill and artificial culture in 

 order to remedy the inappropriateness of climate. — The most delicate foreign %-arieties do 

 not succeed iu this latitude excert under gl?.3s, but in that way they ripen well and are 

 exceedingly productive. 



The Gooseberry, Raspberry, and Currant, require a rich, friable soil, which should 

 be well cultivated and manured. The Gooseberry will grow vigorously and produce very 

 fine fruit if planted at the north side of a paling or open fence and about 2 feel distant 

 fiom it, or if planted beneath the partial shelter of a peach or a plum orchard, as the full 

 rays of the sun burn the fruit and arrest its growth. Raspberries also require the shelter 

 afforded by a hedge or fence, from the too powerful rays of the sun. 



Strau'lzrritc flourish most in a rich friable loam that retains moisture. A sandy soil 

 may cause earlier maturity, but the crop will be deficient. They should be planted in 

 April or September. The bed should be about four feet wide and the plants placed about 

 10 or 12 inches apart each way therein, and it is much the best course in our climate to 

 let them run together, as they then afford shelter to each other from the too powerful rays 

 of the sun. New beds should be formed and the old ones broken up every second year. 

 Note. For ample directions in regard to every department of Horticulture, reference 

 can be made to tlie Treatises named at the com.mencement of this Catalogue, and to the 

 forthcoming General Treatise on the subject which we shall soon publish. 



A manual containing ample directions for the selection of soils and for the culture of 

 the various Trees, &c., will be sent to every purchaser. 



