SEPTEMBER. 
191 
REMARKS ON FRUIT-TREE CULTURE.—No. 1. 
The season is fast approaching for two of the principal operations connected 
with the culture of fruit trees—viz., planting and root-pruning; and as the 
subject is one which appears to increase in importance as it becomes better 
understood, and is at the same time one of the most interesting of all the 
operations with which a gardener is concerned, I have thought that the time 
would be appropriate, to endeavour in my humble way to draw the attention 
of young gardeners to it. There are very few soils so situated and con¬ 
stituted as to be favourable to the production of fruit without preparation of 
some kind or other, so that I think we may safely take as a starting point, that 
success in fruit culture is very rarely attained by blind chance work, but con¬ 
sists in a rational adherence to and following out of certain rules, by which 
practice must always be governed. I do not profess to be able to teach much 
on the subject, but as it is one which has engaged my attention from my youth, 
I have observed a few of the causes and effects connected with it, the details of 
which may probably excite interest and observation, and thus enable others to 
improve their practice, by proving the truth or fallacy of the theories upon 
which that practice is founded. 
It is necessary to commence at an early stage of the tree, say at the time 
it is ready to be lifted out of the nursery-bed to be planted in its final destina¬ 
tion, and that of course must previously be properly prepared for its reception. 
The principal object to be kept in view in preparing a site for a tree is, that it 
may at the outset have a sufficient amount of food presented to the roots, in 
such a condition as may enable them to take it up with the greatest facility; 
and as there are undoubtedly some properties in a maiden soil, not previously 
exhausted by tree roots, which induce a more abundant emission of young 
rootlets, and consequent healthy development of wood and foliage, it is ob¬ 
viously best to select such soils from an open upland pasture, which is situated 
on a dry subsoil; because such are always tougher, and more full of fibre, and 
consequently better adapted for keeping the soil porous and open for the ad¬ 
mission of air. Other substances calculated to open the texture, such as burnt 
earth, old mortar rubbish, charred refuse, roadside scrapings, a small proportion 
of bones broken small, but not reduced to powder, and in the case of all stone 
fruits, a portion of salt should be added to, and thoroughly well incorporated 
with, the loam by frequent turnings ; and if this is done during the summer, 
the compost will be in a suitable condition for use by the planting season, which 
should always commence early in October. It will, perhaps, be observed, that 
I have not recommended the addition of strong manure to the above compost, 
as I consider it by no means admissible in the early stages of the growth of 
fruit trees, as there will, generally, be found quite stimulus enough in a new 
compost, and it is only when the energies of the tree become partially ex¬ 
hausted b) T fruit-bearing, that substances of a more stimulating character 
become necessary. 
So much has of late years been enforced on the subject of thorough 
drainage, that it would seem almost superfluous to insist upon it; but it 
is so indispensable that I must urge a careful attention to it. In all cases, 
where fruit trees are concerned, I recommend deep drains, formed of broken 
stones, which are very durable, and not likely to become choked up with roots, 
a mishap to which pipes are very liable, and which renders the best made pipe 
drains useless after a very few years. After drainage, the compost may be 
laid in, and as many of my remarks will have reference to what I will call 
surface cultivation, I do not recommend a greater extreme depth of border for 
fruit trees than 2 feet for light soils ; but rather shallower, and more drainage, 
