Orchard is an inclosure devoted to the cultivation of hardy fruit trees.

In it may be, as standards, apple-trees, most sorts of pears and plums, and all sorts of cherries, which four are the chief orchard fruits; but to have a complete orchard, also quinces, medlars, mulberries, service trees, filberts, nuts, berberries, walnuts, and chestnuts must be included. The two latter are particularly applicable for the boundaries of orchards, to screen the other trees from impetuous winds. A general orchard composed of all the before mentioned fruit trees, should consist of a double portion of apple trees. With respect to the situation and aspect for an orchard, avoid very low damp situations as much as the nature of the place will admit: for in very wet soils no fruit trees will prosper, nor the fruit be fine; but a moderately low situation, free from copious wet, may be more eligible than an elevated ground, as being less exposed to tempestuous winds; though a situation having a 6mall declivity is very desirable, especially if its aspect incline towards the east, south-east, or south, which are rather more eligible than a westerly aspect; but a north aspect is the worst of all for an orchard, unless particularly compensated by the peculiar temperament or good quality of the soil.

Any common field or pasture that produces good crops of corn, grass, or kitchen garden vegetables, is suitable for an orchard; if it should prove of a loamy nature, it will be a particular advantage; any soil, however, of a good quality, not too light and dry, or too heavy, stubborn, or wet, but of a medium nature, friable and open, with not less than one spade deep of good staple, will be proper.

Preparation, Of The Ground

The preparation of the ground for the reception of the trees is by trenching one or two spades, as the soil will admit. And if in grass, turn the sward clean to the bottom of each trench, which will prove an excellent manure. The ground must be fenced securely against cattle, etc, either with a good ditch and hedge, or with a paling fence, as may be most convenient.

Method Of Planting The Trees

The season for planting all the sorts of fruit trees is autumn, soon after the fall of the leaf, from about the latter end of October until December, though it may be performed any time in open weather, from October until March or April; on light land the autumn is usually preferred, on heavy land the spring is best.

Let several varieties of each particular species be chosen that ripen their fruit at different times from the earliest to the latest, according to the nature of the different sorts, that there may be a sufficient supply of every sort during their proper season; and of apples and pears, in particular, choose a much greater quantity of the autumnal and late ripening kinds, than the early sorts; but most of all of apples; for the summer ripening fruit is but of short duration, only proper for temporary service; but the latter ripening kinds keep sound some considerable time for autumn and winter use. The arrangement of the trees in the orchard must be in rows, each kind separate, at distances according to the nature of growth of the different sorts; but for the larger growing kinds, such as apples, pears, plums, cherries, etc, they should stand from twenty-five to thirty or forty feet every way asunder, though twenty-five or thirty feet at most is a reasonable distance for all these kinds. Each species and its varieties should generally be in rows by themselves, the better to suit their respective modes of growth.

Stake the new planted trees, to support them in their proper position, and secure them from being rocked to and fro by the wind, which would greatly retard their rooting afresh, placing two or three strong tall stakes to each tree; but the most effectual method is to have three stakes to each, placed in a triangle, meeting at top near the head of the tree, wrapping a hayband round that part of the stem, to prevent its being barked by the stakes or tying; then tie the stakes at top close to the tree with some proper bandage, bringing it close about the stem and stakes together, over the hay wrapping, so as to secure the tree firmly in an erect posture. If laid down in grass no car-tle should be turned in to graze at large, unless the stem of each tree is previously well secured with posts and railing, or wattled with thorn bushes, especially in young orchards, otherwise they will bark the trees; nor should large cattle be turned into orchards, where the branches of the trees are yet low and within their reach. - Abercrorn-bie. See Tree-Guard.