have been judiciously lessened, and which have been planted in the manner here described, seldom require any other stay than their own roots. If, however, the stems be tall, and the roots few and short, they should be supported in the usual manner, with stakes, or rather, in the following manner, which is at once simple, strong, and most agreeable to the eye. Take a large post, and slit it with a saw, and place the parts flat-way with the faces to the plant, one on each side of it, and two feet apart, and nail. your rails upon the edges of the

posts.

It seems to be a well-founded opinion, that young apple trees will not flourish advantageously if planted on the site of an old orchard, or near the place where old trees have died. William Coxe, esquire, of New Jersey, the most experienced orchardist in the United States, has experimented with the view of ascertaining this fact; and the result has demonstrated the correctness of it in the clearest manner. He planted young trees in the middle space between the old rows, and sometimes near the stumps of old trees, which had been for many years cut down and decayed; he removed the old soil in digging the holes, and replaced it with rich earth mixed with manure, and gave to his trees all the advantage of high cultivation, yet they were manifestly inferiour in point of growth and vigour to those which were planted at the same season in his adjoining lots.

Having progressed thus far, the husbandman is now presented with a valuable orchard, planted and arranged in complete systematick order; and it may, if he please, be considered as the work of his own hands, from which he may anticipate high expectations of profit and amusement. Thus the value of a farm is greatly augmented, and the proprietor enjoys the satisfaction of bequeathing rich inheritance to future generations. But his

labour is not yet at an end; it will still require his fostering care, and unremitted attention. In vain do we plant, labour, and toil, if through neglect in a single point, we suffer our harvest to be wrested from our hands. Nor are we less culpable if we suffer a young orchard to be destroyed by the depredations of cattle, the annoyance of insects, and the corroding canker, without applying the appropriate remedies. We suppose, then, of course, that the orchard is properly enclosed by a strong and close fence. We next proceed to cultivate the soil beneath, and between the trees, until they arrive at their complete size, as the quality, excellence, and maturity of the fruit will, in a great measure, depend upon its culture. This proproper cess may be performed either with the plough, if due care be taken not to injure the roots, or with the spade around the trunks, and by these means both the fertility and health of the trees are promoted, and the soil itself improved for the purpose of raising potatoes, turnips, or other vegetables, which do not tend too much to impoverish the land. If, however, it is intended to cultivate clover, or other meadow grass for mowing, still it will be advisable to reserve a circuit round each tree, as extensive as the roots, to be kept open by tillage, that by frequent hoeing the fertilizing properties of rain, air, and dew, may more easily penetrate into the earth, and produce beneficial effects on the roots. The opinion prevails among some farmers, that clover has a tendency to retard the growth of fruit trees. If this be true of clover more than of any other grass, it may probably be explained from its luxuriant foliage secluding the influence of warmth, air, and light, from their roots. Mr. Kenrick, of Newton, observes, that he has found herds grass the most injurious to his

trees.

MANURING.

It is well known to every farmer, that young fruit trees will flourish luxuriantly, while the ground is cultivated with various vegetable crops, and that the same tillage and manuring, which is required for the latter, will prove highly conducive to the growth and fertility of the former. In fact, it has been ascertained by experience and observation, that apples, pears, peaches, &c. attain to their highest perfection only when the soil about the roots is kept open, and frequently manured. It is by the chemical combination of air, warmth, and moisture, that the growth and vigour of plants and trees are essentially promoted and maintained. The process of nature is greatly assisted by such substances as cause the greatest degree of fermentation, when buried in the earth. Hence, all animal substances, from the great degree of fermentation created by their dissolution, will be found productive of the greatest utility. Among these, are dead animal bodies, horns, hoofs, bones, when reduced to fragments or powder, leather, shells, &c. To which may be added hair, wool, and woollen rags. These, applied to the roots, and a top dressing of swamp or pond mud, chip or compost manure, annually, or once in two years, will produce surprising effects, and the farmer will realize ample compensation by the increased quantity and improved quality of his crop. As an extraordinary instance of resuscitating an old worthless apple tree, by the application of manure, I quote from the Dom. Ency. a statement, which appeared in the Salem Register, of May, 1802. "În my garden is an apple tree, which, about the year 1763, sprouted from the root of a former tree: it now girts three feet six inches. From 1784 to 1790, I observed it to be barren, and a cumberer

of the ground; year after year, being the prey of caterpillars, and exhibiting the constant appearance of innumerable warts within the outside bark, which, at the time, I suspected was natural instinct in the insect for the propagation of its kind. In the spring of 1793, I tried an experiment for giving it new life, as follows: very early in the season, directed my gardener with a hoe to cleanse the outside bark of such excrescences as might bear the operation with little difficulty. In the next place, I directed him to raise a wall of small stones round the tree, at the distance of one foot, and perhaps nine inches high, and then to fill the cavity with manure from the resource of compost. The effect in the succeeding season was truly worthy of notice. The warts disappeared, the bark clean and thrifty, and the tree so loaded with fruit as that about one third of the boughs broke and came to the ground with the cumbersome weight. Comparatively no caterpillars since, and, on an average, a very plentiful crop of fruit yearly. I was led to the experiment by taking notice of a pear tree that had been in a very similar situation, and had been resuscitated in a similar manner."

There is not, perhaps, in nature a more fertilizing application than the liquid substance which is left at the bottom of stercoraries and barn-yards, after the more solid substance has been removed. This effervescing mixture contains the very essence of the food of plants, and it might be carried out in tight carts or casks, especially in a dry season, and emptied about the trunks and roots, in the cool hours of morning and evening, but on no account during the heat of a summer's day. The planter, however, ought to be apprized, that the process of manuring must not be carried to excess, as too great a stimulus applied to trees, facilitates the luxuriant growth of wood, and renders the branches less productive of fruit: or the trees may

be stimulated to a preternatural exertion for a few years, when their prolifick powers will be exhausted, and a premature decay induced. Fresh stable manure is supposed to be injurious to fruit trees.

There is another expedient, which is understood to have produced favourable effects in promoting the growth of young fruit trees, especially in grass land. The method was published some years ago by a German clergyman, and simply consists in spreading flax-shaws, or the refuse of flax after it has been dressed, on the soil contiguous to the trunks of the trees, as far as the roots extend; by which means their size, as well as their fertility, is remarkably increased. In the vicinity of the seacoast, a valuable substitute for refuse flax, may be found in fresh sea weed. I have employed this article with considerable advantage. Being laid thick round the trunk, it prevents the growth of grass and weeds, keeps the earth open and loose, and, I am disposed to believe, prevents field mice from injuring the bark of the trees in winter, as the salt with which this substance is impregnated is supposed to be obnoxious to those vermin. occurs to me as highly probable, that a quantity of sea weed pressed round the trunks of fruit trees, extending three or four feet, would prove a remedy against the canker worm, by forming a compact substance, through which both the canker moth and worm would be unable to penetrate. It might also serve as a protection against the destructive worm, which bores into the tree near the surface of the earth.

years

It

old;

Engrafted apple trees sometimes put forth blossoms and bear fruit when two or three but if this premature produce be permitted, the prolifick powers will be greatly impaired, and the trees will suffer irreparable injury. If, therefore, the blossoms appear abundant, the fruit should be taken off as soon as formed, leaving only four or