the Maliiiuj of Cider and Ferry. 
397 
tree is soon obtained ; whereas, if it be removed and a young tree 
planted in its place — even if it succeed, which would be doubtful 
— it would be a long time before it came into bearing. 
When the fences are no longer deemed necessary for the sup- 
port and protection of the young trees, it is still proper to guard 
against the injury from cattle, by smearing the stems with lime 
and cow-dung. 
In Herefordshire it is very common to plant apple-trees in 
arable-land — a practice the policy of which is very doubtful ; 
though there can be no doubt that the trees must derive great 
benefit from the tillage and manuring of the land. I am not 
aware that any comparison has been made between the profits of 
an orchard under tillage and another in pasture, on the same kind 
of land. Indeed it is hardly likely that any trial of the kind has 
ever been instituted, or could be with any chance of a satisfactory 
result. It is highly probable, however, that many soils which are 
not naturally adapted to the growth of apples are rendered pro- 
ductive of them by means of the tillage and appliances which 
corn-crops require, and especially by the application of lime. 
Trees will grow luxuriantly on certain soils without bearing- 
apples : on the deep gravels of the grauwacke slate, for instance. 
On such a soil I have seen an orchard planted upon pasture, the 
trees of which throve well, but produced no fruit. There can be 
but little doubt that this orchard would have produced apples 
under an ordinary course of tillage and manuring. It cannot be 
for want of humus that such orchards are unproductive, for that 
accumulates in grass-growing orchards; nor can it be owing to a 
deficiency of either carbon or ammonia, or the elements of water, 
for of these the atmosphere affords an inexhaustible supply to 
plants which have large volumes of leaves and extensive roots for 
their absorption, and this supply is renewed by every breath of 
wind and every shower of rain. It must therefore be owing to a 
deficiency of mineral substances in the soil, which perhaps the 
ordinary manuring and liming bestowed upon arable land would 
have supplied ; for the constant barrenness of an orchard cannot 
be attributed to the effect of spring frosts. 
Other fruit-trees, besides apples and pears, may find a suitable 
place in an orchard attached to a farm-house. Plums and cher- 
ries may find a place on its southern side ; and walnuts and 
Spanish chestnuts serve as a protection to the north and east. 
Cherries and plums are far less choice than apples, as to the soil 
upon which they grow. Productive orchards of the former are 
found upon the new red sandstone of Worcestershire, as well as 
upon the slate rubble of the valleys of Devonshire and Cornwall. 
In the vicinity of or at a moderate distance from large towns the 
produce of such trees often sells for a large sum of money. 
