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Motion in Search of frefh Nourifti- 

 ment, to fupply the Expence of the 

 Branches; for want of which, the 

 Bloflbms fail olfand decay, and the 

 Shoots feem to be at a Stand, until 

 the farther Advance of the Warmth 

 penetrates to the Roots, and fets 

 them in Motion ; when fuddenly af- 

 ter, the Trees, which before look'd 

 weak and decaying, do make prodi- 

 gious Progrcfs in their Shoots ; and. 

 before the Summer is fpent, are fur- 

 ni(hed with much llronger Branches 

 than thofe Trees which have the full 

 Advantage of Sun and Showers, and 

 that re more fruitful and healthy; 

 which mull certainly be owing to 

 the former Oblervation, as alio to 

 their drawing in a great Quantity of 

 crude Moilture ; which, tho 1 pro- 

 ductive of Wood, is yet unkindly for 

 Fruit :if, therefore, this be theCafe, 

 there is no way of helping this, but 

 by raifmg up the Trees, if they are 

 young ; or, if they are too old to 

 remove, it is the better way to root 

 them oat, and make new Borders of 

 frefn Earth, and plant down young 

 Trees ; for it is a great Vexation to 

 be at the Trouble and Expence of 

 pruning and managing tnefe Trees, 

 without having the Pleafure of reap- 

 ing any Advantage from them : 

 which will always be the Cafe where 

 the Trees are thus injudicioufly 

 planted. Or, 



Thirdly, This may proceed from 

 the Trees wanting Nourishment, 

 which is many times the Cafe, where 

 they are planted in an hard gravel- 

 ly Soil, in'which it is the common 

 Practice to dig Borders three or four 

 Feet wide, and three Feet deep in- 

 to the Rock of Gravel, which is 

 filled with good frefh Earth, into 

 which the Trees are planted, where 

 they wili thrive pretty well for two 

 Years, until their Roots reach the 

 Gravel, Where they are cenfin'd, as 



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if planted in a Pot ; and for want of 

 proper Nourifhment, the Branches 

 continually decay every Year. This 

 cannot be helped, where tne 'i rees 

 fiave been growing fome Yeais, 

 without taking them intireiy up, 

 or by digging away the Gravel 

 from their Roots, and adding a large 

 Quantity of frefh Earth, that may 

 afford them a Supply of Nourish- 

 ment : but where a Perfon intends 

 to plant Fruit-trees uponfucha Soil, 

 I would advrfe him never to dig in- 

 to the Gravel ; but, on the contra- 

 ry, to raife the Borders at leait two 

 Feet above ir, with good frefh Earth; 

 which, if made of a coniiderable 

 Width, fo that their Roots may 

 have room to extend themftlves up- 

 on the Gravel, they will enjoy the 

 kindly Influences of the Sun and 

 Showers, and produce delicate well- 

 havour'd Fruit in plenty. 



But if the Unfruitfulnefs of the 

 Trees do not proceed from any of 

 the before-mentioned Cauies,and is 

 the Effeft of unkindly Seafons, then 

 the belt Method yet known is, in 

 frofty dry Weather, when little Dew 

 falls, to fprinkle the Branches of the 

 Trees gently with Water in the 

 bloffoming Seafon, and while the 

 young-fet Fruit is tender; which 

 mould always be done beforeNoon, 

 that the Moifture may evaporate 

 before the Night comes on ; and if 

 in the Night you carefully cover 

 theTrees with Mats, Canvas, or fome 

 fuch light Covering, it will be of 

 great Service to them : however, 

 where theTrees are ilrong and vigo- 

 rous, they are not fo liable to furFer 

 by a fmall Inclemency, as are thofe 

 which are weak ; fo that there will 

 be few Seafons in which there may 

 not be Hopes of a moderate Quan- 

 tity from them ; tho 1 there mould 

 be no Covering ufed ; for where 

 thefe Coverings are ufed, if it is not 

 performed 



