232 * rHE ORCHARD, [March. 
ed as before, but without touching their heads, for the present. So 
soon after planting as their buds begin to push, head them down 
to within six, eight, or ten inches of the place where you wish them 
to branch out for forming their heads; they will then throw out 
young vigorous shoots, which you may afterwards train and thick- 
en, or make thin at pleasure, by judicious pruning in the following 
years; or should any of these young shoots in the course of the 
succeeding months, take too great a lead of the others, you may 
top them in July, which will stop their rampant growth, and cause 
them to throw out side shoots 'hat will still enlarge a foundation for 
nuxnerous branches, and not carry off too much of the sap from 
the others. 
Should it happen that any of your trees, have large heads and 
but few or scanty roots; reduce their tops, by a select and judicious 
pruning, to a due proportion with their roots; for an Ox, fed only 
through a wren's quill, could not long exist. This, will seldom 
happen, unless by accident, or carelessness in the takiig of them 
up; provided, they are raised at proper distances, in the Nursery. 
The arrangement of the trees in the Orchard should be in rows, 
each different kind of fruit separate, and at distances proportionate 
to the nature of their growths. Apple and pear trees may be planted 
at fifty feet distance, every way; cherry and plum, at from thirty to 
forty; peach, nectarine, apricot, almonds, and quinces, at from 
twenty-five to thirty feet; and at still greater distances, if you are 
not limited in extent of suitable ground, and that you intend to raise 
various crops between the trees. 
You should have great regard to the distance of planting the 
trees, which is what few people have rightly considered; for if you 
plant them too close, they will be liable to blights; the air being 
thereby pent in among them, will also cause the fruit to be ill tast- 
ed; for a great quantity of damp vapours from the prespiration 
of the trees, and the exhalation from the earth mixed with it, 
will be imbibed by the fruit, and render their juices crude and un- 
wholesome; besides, it is the opinion of some well informed 
naturalists, and orchardists, that these vapours and prespiration of 
the trees, collect the heat of the sun, and reflect it in streams, so as 
to cause what is called a fire-blast; which, is extremely hurtful to 
fruit, and most frequent, where the Orchards are open to the south 
sun. 
Having your trees in readiness, proceed to stake or mark out the 
ground, according to the above, or greater distances, placing a small 
stake or mark, where each hole is to be made, for the reception of the 
trees; which if made to range every way, will have a very agreea- 
ble effect, admit the currency of air and sun's influence more effectu- 
ally, and make the Orchard still more convenient for tillage. 
A wide circular hole must be dug for every tree, capacious enough 
to receive all the roots freely without touching the sides; but by no 
means of a greater depth than the natural good soil: if you 
make a deep hole, bason like, into the clay bottom, or unfriendly, 
sub-soil, which is too frequently done, and plant the roots therein, 
even filling it round with good earth will not do, for as soon as it 
