166 POMEROY ON FRUIT PLANTATIONS. 
strong clay, On a solid calcareous marl. About the 
middle of March, circular holes were opened, about 
four feet in diameter; the sod, with the surface soil, to 
the depth of about six inches, was thrown up on one 
side, on the other, that beneath, so as to leave an open¬ 
ing two feet deep: during the summer, the whole was 
repeatedly turned, and as winter came on, the earth 
being then dry, was thrown up separately into round 
tumps, by the sides of the opening ; on the approach 
of the following spring, small gutters were made level 
with the bottom of the holes, opening on the surface 
below, so as to carry off all the water that could collect 
in these basins formed in the marl. In planting the 
trees, the method already recommended was observed ; 
and in the following winter, a circular trench, two feet 
wide and two deep, was dug out round the outsides of 
the first openings ; the soil left exposed, and turned as 
before; and the ensuing summer, it was nearly filled 
with furze, before the soil was returned into it, with the 
view to keep it loose, and by that means invite the 
shooting of the roots. The gutter was also extended, 
and carefully preserved. On the adjoining ground, 
the situation and soil exactly similar, a plantation was 
made in the usual ma nner, the trees being set when the 
openings in the first were made. The latter was re¬ 
peatedly manured, arid managed throughout with at¬ 
tention : on the former, no manure has been used. 
The trees of each plantation were young and thriving, 
about the same age when planted, and every other 
circumstance, exclusive of tine method of planting the 
same. The result of the experiment, for such it may 
be called, though accidental, is this—the trees of the 
former plantation are at this time (about fourteen years 
from the first opening of the ground) full twice the 
size 3 
