NOTES ON THE PJiUNE. 
355 
that the Peach stock will do better on such soils than on the heavier 
clayey lands of the bottoms. In the heavier soils, the Plum stock does 
better than the Peach, and the Myrobalan, or Wild Plum, is the favourite. 
It is hardy, forms a good union with its graft, and does not throw out 
suckers as other Plum stocks will. The Almond stock is a favourite with 
many growers who have a rocky subsoil, and it does exceedingly well on 
such land, even better than the Peach. 
The preparation of the soil depends largely upon its specialities. If 
heavy, it should be deeply ploughed and subsoiled. If there is a hard 
pan subsoil, this should be broken up with any good subsoil plough. In any 
case the ground should be ploughed deep and well stirred up for ventila- 
tion. Where practicable, it is well to begin the preparation of the land 
for an orchard some time before the planting of it. It should be 
thoroughly and deeply ploughed early in the autumn, leaving the surface 
rough and exposed to the air during the winter. 
Following in the furrow with a subsoil plough is very desirable, 
especially in the conversion of old grain lands into orchards, as it breaks 
up the old hard pan, which has probably formed through years of shallow 
cultivation. A striking instance of this was seen on the property of Mr. 
W. 0. Chandler, of Ash, near Dover, in Kent, a few years ago when 
converting grain land into a plantation. The land in question, being 
near the marshes, had been sadly neglected by the former tenant, but was 
by this process soon transformed into profitable land. The preparation 
may continue through the following summer ; hoed crops may be grown, 
or, better still, the land can be left to lie fallow during the summer, care 
being taken in any case to keep it thoroughly pulverised and free from 
weeds. If it be desirable to fertilise the land, manure can be applied in 
the winter before the trees are planted. If this is not done then, the 
work must be left until the trees are planted, and the manure should be 
evenly spread over the surface during the winter, to be ploughed in the 
spring. Care should be taken to spread it equally, and not mass it around 
the young trees, unless it be applied as a mulch to prevent evaporation 
after spring cultivation. 
If the land has to be planted immediately after breaking it up, the 
work should be commenced as early in the autumn as it is possible to do 
deep ploughing, and the ground should be stirred to a depth of 8 or 10 
inches or more, and afterwards thoroughly harrowed. Some of the or- 
chards in Santa Clara County have been ploughed, just before planting the 
trees, to a depth of over 14 inches. If it be then still early, cross-plough 
deeply and follow with a subsoil plough working to a still greater depth. 
Harrow again thoroughly, and the land will be ready for the trees. 
Planting the Oechaed. 
In laying out an orchard it is desirable to have it symmetrical, and to 
economise the land. 
A little thought and care taken at the beginning will save much 
annoyance in after years, and it is no more trouble to have the orchard 
neat in appearance and symmetrical in outline than to have it in a hap- 
. hazard condition. 
