SANDY AND STRONG LOAMS. 
49 
rising out of it to attack the fruit, foliage, or branches of the 
tree. 
Such are some of the disadvantages of a light sandy soil ; 
and, in thoroughly examining many of the fruit gardens of 
the middle states the last few seasons, we could not fail to be 
struck with the fact that in nine cases out of ten, where a variety 
of fruit was unusually liable to disease, to blight, or to the attacks 
of certain fruit-destroying insects, as the curculio, the trees 
themselves were on sandy soils; while on the other hand, and 
frequently in the same neighbourhood, the same sorts were grow 
ing luxuriantly and bearing abundant crops, where the soil was a 
rather strong loam.* For a few years, the growth and produc- 
tiveness of the trees upon sandy soil, is all that can be desired ; 
but the trees are shorter lived and sooner fall into decay 
than where the soil is stronger. If there is any exception to 
this rule, it is only in the case of the Peach, and judging from 
the superiour flavour of this fruit on stronger soils, we are 
inclined to doubt the value of the exception even here. 
Gravelly loams are frequently much better adapted for or- 
chards than sandy, especially where the loam is of a strong 
quality, and the gravel is not in excess ; and the hardier fruits 
usually do well on this kind of soil. 
Strong loams , by which we mean a loam with only just a 
sufficient portion of sand to make it easily Worked, are on the 
whole by far the best for fruit gardens in this country. A strong 
loam is usually a deep soil, and affords during the whole heat of 
summer, a proper supply of moisture and nourishment to the 
roots of trees. Fruit trees do not come into a bearing state so 
soon in a strong as in a sandy loam, because the growth of 
wood is more vigorous, and fruit buds are not so soon formed ; 
but they bear larger crops, are much less liable to many diseases, 
and their longevity is much greater. The largest and most 
productive orchards of the apple and pear in this country are 
upon soils of this kind. 
Clayey loams are, when well drained, and when the clay is 
not in excess, good fruit soils — they are usually strong and deep 
soils though rather heavy and difficult to work. Trees that will 
flourish on these soils, such as the Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, 
and Apricot, usually are very free from disease, or insects, and 
bear large crops. In a moist climate, like that of England, 
fruit trees on a clayey loam would die of canker, brought on by 
the excessive quantity of water contained in the soil, but such is 
* As an instance in point, the ov^iier of one of the most highly cultivated 
gardens in the vicinity of Boston was showing us, in despa. r, some trees 
of the Seckel pear upon which he could no longer get good crops, or fair 
fruit, and lamenting the degeneracy of the sort. The next day we saw iu 
a neighbouring garden beautiful crops of this pear growing with the least 
possible care. The garden in the first case was a light sandy loam in 
the second, a strong loam. 
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