Nov,] 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



447 



" If the cultivation of orchard-fruits be industriously fol- 

 lowed, the ground among the trees should be digged and kept 

 with the hoe, for the first seven or eight years after planting. 

 In order to defray the expense incurred in doing so, it is very 

 proper to crop the ground with vegetables to a certain extent ; 

 but by no means to such an extent as to injure the trees ; 

 which, however, is too frequently the case, and is very erro- 

 neous. If the following rule, with respect to this matter were 

 followed, the expense of keeping the ground and the rent would 

 oe fully paid ; and the trees would not be injured, but, on the 

 contrary, be benefited. Crop to w^ithin two feet of the trees 

 the first year ; a yard the second ; four feet the third ; and so 

 on until finally relinquished ; which of course w^ould be against 

 the eighth year, provided the trees were planted at the dis- 

 tances, and as directed in " The Planting of Orchards." 



" By this time, if the kinds have been well chosen, the 

 temporary trees will be in full bearing, and will forthwith de- 

 fray every necessary expense while they remain, or until the 

 principal trees come into a bearing state, and it becomes neces- 

 sary to remove them ; after which, the ground should be sown 

 down in grass. But until then, the ground should be pro- 

 perly cultivated, though not cropped, close to the trees ; and 

 a moderate quantity of manure should be digged in every se- 

 cond or third season, 



" This is a very proper time for doing so, whether the inter- 

 vals be under crop or not. If they be under crop, pay respect 

 to the spaces next the trees only ; but if not, the whole ground 

 may be digged. It should be laid up in a rough manner," as 

 we have so often recommended, " giving it as much surface as 

 possible, in order that the weather may fully act upon and 

 meliorate the soil, thus fallowing it as far as the case will 

 admit. Observe to dig carefully near the trees, and so as not 

 to hurt their roots and fibres." 



In digging among trees at all times, particularly where the 

 soil is shallow and the roots near the surface, we would re- 

 commend using a fork instead of a spade, as less likely to in- 

 jure tiie roots. 



