20 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



table-fruit and vegetables of the finest quality, and its fertility has long 

 gained for it the reputation of being the garden of the mid-west. The climate 

 is mild and healthy, and the rainfall is nearly tJic minimum of England. Hop- 

 gardens are plentiful in the western division, and their produce ranks next to 

 that of Kent." So much for Worcester, 



Yorkshire, we learn from the same source, suffers from its inclination to 

 the German Ocean ; and as for Derby, we are told that it is " more a manu- 

 facturing and mining than an agricultural county," and that "the climate is 

 cold and moist, with fogs and often frosts in summer." History does not 

 make any allusion to the culture of hops in Derby or York, or to the manu- 

 facture of either cider or perry. The above description of Worcester api)lied, 

 we must remind the reader, five years ago ; but the author of ' Fibry Roots,' 

 &c,, went there about that period, and the climate changed for the worse 

 immediately, and it is now neither "early, dry, nor warm." What changes of 

 a physical or other nature have happened there during these five years have not 

 yet been chronicled, but a paper on that subject will, it is to be hoped, be forth- 

 coming soon. The writer of the paper under review was " suddenly called to 

 Edinburgh," and broke his journey at Leeds and Derby, where he spent prob- 

 ably about four-and-twenty hours, a good portion of the time in bed no doubt, 

 and he had therefore " an opportunity of making climatical notes," hence his 

 authority for his statements, which we do not of course attempt to controvert. 

 In taking leave of this subject, "Reader" has only to observe, that in criti- 

 cising lectures or papers addressed to the whole world, he does not consider it 

 incumbent upon him to put any other construction upon the words and 

 phrases they may contain than these express and are meant to convey, and 

 as they are evidently understood by those to whom they are addressed. 



Reader. 



HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 



HAEDY FRUITS. 



It is seldom that experienced fruit -farmers plant orchards at this 

 season ; neither do practical gardeners often commit a mistake in this 

 manner, though frequently they are, not from choice, compelled to yield 

 to circumstances, and plant when a chance offers itself. If the work has 

 not been done during the past three months, we would prefer prepar- 

 ing the ground for the trees by the necessary trenching, draining, or 

 whatever is required, and plant when days are longer and warmer, as 

 weU as when the ground was congenial. Turfy loam, or otherwise fresh 

 wholesome soil, placed next the roots, is always a good beginning for 

 them. A quantity of lime -rubbish or brickbats laid immediately 

 under the tree will cause the roots to spread outwards instead of going 

 down into the cold subsoil. When trees are for orchards in which 

 cattle are to graze, the stems should be high, and every encourage- 

 ment given to make good substantial growth ; but then the roots and 

 trees will do much better if they are kept into the surface-soil and free 

 from the cold subsoil. Tap-roots mostly lead to unfruitfulness. In few 



