38 TUE FLOaiST. 



this he put 2-| feet of the same soil, selecting of course the best, and mixed 

 with it a good portion of manure. In this border he planted a lot of 

 Peach and Nectarine trees, and five years after he had as fine a wall of 

 trees as I have ever seen in any part of the country since. When I 

 heard last of them the trees were still in good heaUh. Had not this 

 article already extended beyond all reasonable limits, I could adduce 

 scores of facts similar to those mentioned, all showing that with proper 

 cultivation we may in nine years out of ten expect average crops. 

 There are some people who, as the editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle 

 remarks, when they lose their crops never think of simple common sense 

 explanations of failure, but run to books, perplex themselves with 

 comphcated directions, half understand them, try to carry them out, and 

 inevitably fail. All this comes of neglect of first principles. 



In the village of Goldsborough, about two miles from here, there is a 

 cottager who has an Apricot tree growing against his cottage wall. This 

 man has during the last 20 years made upwards of £40 of the fruit of 

 this one tree, which has never had any other protection than a few straw 

 blinds. Does this fact show that we are to distrust our climate and have 

 recourse to glass ? This man has, of the fruit of this one tree, made 

 nearly as much as his cottage is worth. 



As a great portion of all our fruits. Peaches and Nectarines excepted, 

 which reach our country markets is produced by market gardeners, 

 farmers, and cottagers, on this account I am an advocate for encouraging 

 the growth of fruit trees among the latter. As Pears, Plums, and 

 Apricots bear on spurs, cottagers will have little difficulty in managing 

 such trees ; the only danger is that of their leaving too many spurs, but 

 when they find them pay they will not mind a little trouble with them. 

 In the growth of the Peach and Nectarine, in fact all fruit trees, unless 

 the wood is thoroughly ripened, it is in vain to expect fruit. At the 

 close of my article on this subject, I said, " If the wood is well ripened I 

 would not, nor do I, use them " (coverings). I still stand on the same 

 ground. 



If what I have advanced be the true state of the case it will stand, 

 no matter what opposition may come ; if it be wrong it will go down 

 without any argument. The same with " Helminthion's " ideas. 



To the judgment of a candid public I commit the matter. I will 

 finish this very long article by quoting M. de Jonghe's words in his 

 reply to Mr. Rivers in Gardeners' Chronicle, December 9 : " Have we 

 not had in Belgium, situated in the same latitude, and subject to the 

 same winds, the same variations of climate in the month of April as in 

 England ? Very well, then ; all the amateurs who were careful in the 

 management of their trees had a crop, whilst the negligent had none. 

 In conclusion, I am well aware that it is difficult to persuade and 

 convince by reasoning, supported by facts, a person who, from motives 

 of whatever kind, will not be convinced." 



Stourton. M. Saul. 



