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tough, hard, and generally fo dry, as to con- 
fine the young tender Shoots of Roots from en- 
larging themfelves; and accordingly I have feen 
many Trees, efpecially young ones, that ha e 
been as it were declining, inftead of thriving, 
under fuch Confinement. 
‘ The Southams Method to top-drefs the Roots of 
old Apple-Tree Sr — This fhould be done in Novem- 
ber at fartheft, becaufe, by performing it early 
in the Winter, the Roots are thereby enabled 
to put forth ftrong and vigorous Buds and 
Shoots in the following Spring Seafon, which 
thole Trees that are drefled much later cannot 
enjoy. The proper Dreffing for this is High- 
way Soil, the Scouring of Ditches, Lime or 
Chalk, and Sea-Sand mixed together and rot- 
ted, and laid on Furze, or without it, about 
five or fix Inches thick, and about four or five 
Foot all round from the Body of the Tree. 
This Management is very proper to be done, 
for either young or old Trees, but efpecially 
for the old Sorts; and, if Furze is wanting. 
Fern or Straw may be made ufe of, as it keeps 
off Froft in Winter, Droughts and Weeds in 
Summer, and gives fome Nourishment to their 
Roots. Apple-Trees fhould be every three or 
four Years drefled with a different Dreffing ; 
but let the Dreffing be but a flight one, even a 
little Straw, it will do Service, provided there 
be enough of it, to keep the Earth loofe and 
mellow; for, as I faid before, the Roots can 
never profper well, when they have a hard Sur- 
D 4 face 
