ON PLANTING ORCHARDS. 7$ 



XI. 



Account of an extensive Orchard planted at Bradwell in Es- 

 sex, by Mr. Samuel Curtis, of Walworth** 



SIR, 



JL Take the liberty of sending you an account of an under- 

 taking, for which I hope I shall be entitled to some notice 

 from the Society of Arts, &c. I do not know whether they 

 have offered premiums or medals for planting fruit trees, 

 nor do I suppose it is always requisite, as I understand the 

 Society confer their favours without such offers for matters 

 they think deserving of them. 



Two years ago I took a small farm in Essex, (a county Farm of fifty 



where fruit is scarce,) consisting of near fifty acres. As the acres converted 



into an or- 

 soil appeared proper, and the aspect favourable, I converted chard. 



the whole inro an orchard, by planting one hundred trees on 

 each acre, in the following manner, viz. The fruit trees are 

 placed in rows one rod asunder; between the trees in each 

 row is a space of two rods; the plants are cherries, and ap- 

 ples or pears alternately, so that one half of the plantation 

 cousists of cherry trees. In about twenty or thirty years the 

 apple and pear trees will require the whole of the ground; 

 the cherry trees are then to be cut out, leaving the apple 

 and pear trees uniformly two rods asunder each way, and in 

 straight lines. 



The orchard is now completed with the best kinds known 

 or produced in the nurseries, in the whole nearly live thou- 

 sand standard trees. They are well staked, and have been 

 properly pruned twice a year. Farming crops have been Farming crop* 

 since produced on the same ground as good as formerly, the thegrourvdat 

 plough being allowed to go within two feet of the trees each before. 

 way, so that for many years to come the land will pay the 

 expenses, and yield a profit exclusive of the fruit. I have 

 in one part planted medlars, quinces, plums, walnuts, and 

 other trees, to make the fruit collection as complete as pos- 

 sible, and I have spared no expense which could tend to im- 

 prove the whole. 



* Trans, of the Society of Arts, vol. XXVI, p. 123. The silver me- 

 dal of the Society was voted to Mr. Curtis for this communication. 



I shall • 



