96' On the best Mode of planting Peach Trees. 



The objection will probably present itself, that the roots of 

 Peach trees, when near a northern aspect, must there imbibe 

 an ungenial nourishment, more likely to produce a cankered 

 and spongy growth of wood, than well ripened fertile shoots. 

 To this the best answer is, that experience has proved the 

 contrary ; and a little reflection will shew, that such a result 

 might have been expected. 



The temperatures of the earth in shade and sunshine, are 

 not to be judged of by those of the air under similar circum- 

 stances, as they bear no relative proportion to each other ; 

 the extremes of the latter being more variable, and widely 

 distant, than those of the earth, which, deriving its degree of 

 warmth from the general state of the surrounding atmos- 

 phere, possesses it more equally, and with less difference in 

 either situation ; so that while the head of the Peach would 

 perish against a north wall, its roots would enjoy nearly as 

 great a degree of warmth, as if in the south borders ; and 

 even that difference insensibly lessens, as the distance re- 

 cedes from the wall, and in a short space becomes imper- 

 ceptible. The roots of Peach trees when undisturbed, soon 

 reach this point, for in the instance above mentioned, they 

 were found to have run ten or twelve feet from the wall at 

 the north side. In the north border also, which we may 

 suppose wholly appropriated to the use of the trees, their 

 roots will rise to the surface, and occupy it entirely ; but in 

 the south border, the ground being constantly cropped and 

 tilled, they are cut and damaged by the spade, and forced 

 down into the under stratum, and thence alone derive their 

 nourishment ; the ground there, too, is soon exhausted of that 

 natural fertility and freshness so essential to the Peach. 



