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are many perfons who prefer low fituations at the foot 
of hills, but I am thoroughly convinced from expe- 
rience, that all bottoms where there are hills on each 
fide, are very improper for this purpofe *, for the air 
is drawn down into thefe vallies in ftrong cur- 
rents, which, being pent in renders thefe bottoms 
much colder than the open fituations ; and during 
the winter and fpring, thefe bottoms are very damp 
and unhealthy to all vegetables •, therefore the gentle 
rife of a hill, fully expofed to the fun and air, is by 
much the belt fituation. As to the foil, a gentle ha- 
zel loam, which is eafy to work, and that doth not 
detain the wet, is the belt •, if this happens to be 
three feet deep, it will be better for the growth of 
the trees, for although thefe trees will grow upon ve- 
ry ftrong land, yet they are feldom fo^thriving, nor 
are their fruit fo well flavoured, as thofe which grow 
on a gentle foil •, and on the other hand, thefe trees 
will not do well upon a very dry gravel or fand, 
therefore thofe foils fhould never be made choice of 
for orchards. 
The ground intended to be planted fhould be well 
prepared the year before, by ploughing it thorough- 
ly, and if fome dung is laid upon it the year before, 
it will be of great fervice to the trees ; if in the pre- 
ceding fpring a crop of Peas or Beans is planted on 
the ground (provided they are fown or planted in rows, 
at a proper diftance, fo as that the ground between 
them is horfe-hoed,) it will deftroy the weeds, and 
loofen the ground, fo that it will be a good prepara- 
tion for the trees, for the earth cannot be too much 
wrought, or pulverifed for this purpofe : thefe crops 
will be taken off the ground long before the feafon 
for planting of thefe trees, which fhould be as foon 
as poffible performed when the trees begin to fhed 
their leaves. 
In chufmg of the trees, I would advife the taking 
fuch as are but of two years growth from the graft, 
and never to plant old trees, or fuch as are grafted up- 
on old flocks, for it is lofing of time to plant thefe ; 
young trees being always more certain to grow, and 
make a much greater progrefs than thofe which are 
old. As to pruning of the roots, it mu ft be done in 
the fame manner as hath been already direbled for the 
efpalier-trees ; and in pruning their heads, little more 
is necelfary than to cut out fuch branches as are ill 
placed, or that crofs each other ; for I do not approve 
the heading of them down, as is by fome often pradtifed 
to the lofs of many of their trees. 
The diftance which thefe trees fhould be planted, 
where the foil is good, muft be fifty or fixty feet ; and 
where the foil is not fo good, forty feet may be fuffi- 
cient ; but nothing can be of worie confequence, than 
the crowding trees too clofe together in orchards. 
And although there may be fome who may imagine 
this diftance too great, yet I am fure, when they have 
thoroughly confidered the advantages attending this 
pradtice, they will agree with me. Nor is it my own 
opinion in this affair, for in many of the old writers 
on this fubjedt, there is often mention made of the 
neceffity for allowing a proper diftance to the fruit- 
trees in orchards, particularly Auften, upon planting 
before quoted, who fays, 44 He fhould chufe to 
44 prefcribe the planting thefe trees fourteen or fix- 
44 teen yards afunder ; for both trees and fruits have 
44 many great advantages, if planted a good diftance 
44 one from another.” One advantage he mentions 
is, 44 The fun refrefhes every tree, the roots, body, 
44 and branches, with the bloffoms and fruits •, where- 
44 by trees bring forth more fruit, and thofe fairer and 
44 better.” Another advantage he mentions is, 44 That 
44 when trees are planted at a large diftance, much 
44 profit may be made of the ground under and about 
44 thefe trees, by cultivating garden-fluff, commo- 
44 dious as well for fale as houfekeeping ; as alfo 
44 Goofeberries, Rafpberries, Currants, and Straw- 
44 berries, may be there planted.” Again he fays, 
44 When, trees have room to fpread, they will grow 
ver y } ar g e and great ; and the confequences of that j 
ie : 'will be ? not only multitudes of fruits, but alfo j 
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44 long lading, and thefe two are no final! advan- 
44 tagesA For, fays he, 44 Men are miftaken, when 
44 they fay, the more trees in an orchard, the more 
44 fruits j for one or two large trees which have room 
44 to fpread, will bear more fruits than fix or ten (it 
44 may be) of thofe that grow near together, and 
44 crowd one another.” Again he fays, 44 Let men but 
44 obferve, and take notice of fome Apple-trees, that 
44 grow a great diftance from other trees, and have 
44 room enough to fpread both their roots and 
44 branches, and they fhall fee, that one of thofe trees ' 
44 (being come to full growth) hath a larger head, 
44 and more boughs and branches, than (hTmay be) 
44 four, or fix, or more, of thofe which grow near 
44 together, although of the fame age,” 
And Mr. Lawfon, an ancient planter, advifes to 
plant Apple-trees twenty yards afunder. As the two 
authors above quoted have written the beft upon this 
fubjedt, and feem to have had more experience than 
any of the writers I have yet feen, I have made ufe 
of them as authorities to confirm what I have ad- 
vanced ; though the fadt is fo obvious to every perfoa 
who will make the leaft reflection, that there needs 
no other proof. 
When the trees are planted, they fhould be flaked, 
to prevent their being fnaken, or blown out of the 
ground by ftrong winds ; but in doing of this, there 
fhould be particular care taken, to put either ftraw, 
hay bands, or woollen cloth, between the trees and 
the flakes, to prevent the trees from being rubbed 
and bruifed, by the fhaking againft the flakes, for if 
their bark fhould be rubbed off, it will occafion fuch 
great wounds, as not to be healed over in fevers! 
years, if they ever recover it. 
If the winter fhould proye very fevere, it will be pro- 
per to cover the furface of the ground about their 
roots with fome mulch, to prevent the froft from pe- 
netrating the ground, which will cleftroy the young 
fibres •, but this mulch fhould not be laid on too foon, 
as hath been before mentioned, left the moifture 
fhould be prevented from foaking down to the roots 
of the trees, nor fhould it lie on too long in the fpring 
for the fame reafon ; therefore where perlbns will be 
at the trouble to lay it on in frofty weather, and re- 
move it again after the froft is over, that the wet in 
February may have free accefs to the roots of the 
trees ; and if March fhould prove dry, with fharp 
north or eaft winds, which often . happens, it will be 
proper to cover the ground again with the mulch, to 
prevent the winds from penetrating and drying the 
ground, and will be of fingular fervice to the trees. 
But I am aware, that this will be objedted toby ma- 
ny, on account of the trouble, which may appear to 
be great ; but when it is confidered, how much of 
this bufinefs may be done by a fingle perfon in a fhorr 
time, it can have little force, and the benefit which 
the trees will receive by this management, will greatly 
recompenfe the trouble and expence. 
As thefe trees mtift be conftantly fenced from cattle, 
it will be the beft way to keep the land in tillage for 
fome years, that by conftant ploughing or digging of 
the ground, the roots of the trees will be more en- 
couraged, and they will make the more progrefs in 
their growth ; but where this is done, whatever crops 
are fown or planted, fhould not be too near the trees, 
left the nourifliment fhould be drawn away from the 
trees ; and as in the ploughing of the ground where 
it is fo tilled, there muft be care taken not to go too 
near the ftem of the trees, whereby their roots would 
be injured, or the bark of their items rubbed pff, fo 
it will be of great fervice - to dig the ground about 
the trees where the plough doth not come, every 
autumn, for five or fix years after planting, by which 
time their roots will have extended themfelves to a 
greater diftance. 
It is a common practice in many parts of England, t 
lay the ground down for pafture, after the trees are 
grown pretty large in their orchards j but this is by 
no means advifeable, for I have frequently feen trees 
of above twenty years growth, alrnoft deftroyed by 
horfes, 
