means of shaws or shelters of Spanish chesnut, Scotch firs, ash, or other quick-growing trees.
Manure is likewise an object of the greatest importance: and, for this purpose, the sweepings of streets, those of cow and slaughter-houses, the emptying of drains and night-soil, are, in the opinion of Mr. Bucknall, eminently serviceable; as they "are more disposed to facilitate the growth and health of fruit-trees, than the manure from the stable."
III. Method of Planting.
The best season for planting fruit-trees is in autumn, shortly after the leaves begin to fall; from the latter end of October till the commencement of December; though, if the weather continue open, or mild, it may be performed at any time between the months of October and March.
As many trees become diseased with the moss, canker, &c. in consequence of an injudicious selection, Mr. B. directs them to be chosen the year before they are intended to be planted. The orchardist, he observes, must be particularly careful to obtain young and healthy trees; for cankered plants emit a vapour which is very detrimental to such as are sound: he must, likewise, see them properly pruned in the nursery, so that all extraneous or rambling branches be closely taken off, and only three or four leading shoots be left to every head: thus managed, the trees will not require to be lopped for a considerable time; and, as they will have no wounds open in the year when transplanted, their growth will be greatly promoted.
On taking up the fruit-trees, the roots should be preserved of a convenient length, in consequence of which they will incline to grow in a horizontal direction, and be more immediately influenced by the sun: their sap will become richer, and produce the sweetest and most beautiful fruit.
In arranging the trees, Mr. Bucknall directs them to be planted conformably to the mode represented in the following Cut:
One row of the tallest and strongest standards is to be set on the three cold sides; parallel to which, must be planted another row of the next free-growers: then, the trees are to be disposed in a similar manner, according to their strength, gradually declining in size, to the centre. Each standard is to be placed 33 feet asunder, between which two dwarf-trees should be planted; all of them being so pruned, that each row will, at the expiration of thirteen years, form an actual hedge of fruit. The intermediate spaces may be filled
