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Tlie HwticiiUurist and Jomiial 



Fruits for Small Gardens. 



liV ANDREW S. FULLER. 



IN selecting fruits for cultivating in a small 

 garden, far more care is requisite than for 

 grounds of considerable extent. Few owners 

 of limited grounds care to experiment beyond 

 what is actually necessary to determine the 

 adaptation of varieties to their soil and cli- 

 mate. 



The novice, however, if he consults cata- 

 logues, or more pretentious works on horticul- 

 ture, is very likely to become confused by the 

 long array of names .of varieties, each minutely 

 described, and with the usual number of 

 adjectives employed in extolling their merits. 



I do not say this in a sarcastic spirit ; for 

 every word said in praise of a fruit may be 

 true. Still, in certain localities, it will surely 

 prove to be utterly worthless for cultivation. 



The orange is a grand fruit for Florida, 

 but of no value for field culture in New York ; 

 and the reverse of this is true in regard to 

 our best varieties of apples and pears. This 

 law of adaptation of species and varieties to 

 climate as well as soil, is far more potent than 

 even some of our most experienced horticul- 

 turists are willing to admit ; hence, the many 

 failures of otherwise well-directed efforts. The 

 amateur, who has never had occasion to look 

 into the subject, is liable to fall into the error 

 of putting a too general meaning upon the 

 words of writers on horticultural matters ; and 

 that which puzzles him most is not what to 

 select, but what to avoid ; for he probably wants 

 only one variety out of every hundred de- 

 scribed as good, or mrij good. Then, again, 

 he will seldom think of selecting a sort de- 

 scribed as second or third rate in quality, 

 although experience may in time teach him 

 that such are frequently the most valuable, if 

 not a dernier resort. The writer has more 

 than once been severely criticised for speaking 

 well of, or recommending, certain fruits of 

 inferior quality for particular locations ; his 

 critic taking the high but untenable ground. 



that, to elevate the tastes of the masses, the 

 very best-flavored sorts should always be rec- 

 ommended. 



It is well enough to aim high, if the game 

 is worth the powder, and the marksman can 

 afford the expense ; but the owners of small 

 gardens are not supposed to be, as a class, 

 men who are disposed to spend money without 

 receiving a full equivalent therefor. 



It is far better that a family should have a 

 full supply of a really good fruit, than to ob- 

 tain only an occasional taste of something of 

 a superlative order. 



Gai'den Afraiif/ement. — Fruit trees, 

 such as pears, apples, plums, and peaches, 

 should be planted very sparingly in what 

 would be termed small gardens, say. from a 

 quarter of an acre to an acre. Most persons, 

 however, fall into this error of planting too 

 many large trees, and their grounds soon be- 

 come shaded, to such an extent that the really 

 more valuable products have to be excluded. 

 A few dwarf pears, or apples, may, however, 

 be introduced, or a less number of standards, 

 if planted where they will not shade ground 

 required for other purposes. There are vege- 

 tables, and some of the small fruits, which 

 succeed well in partial shade — therefore may 

 be cultivated among trees, for a few years at 

 least ; but such an arrangement will necessa- 

 rily be only temporary, and calculations must 

 be made accordingly. But whether it would 

 be advisable to admit large trees into a small 

 garden, or not, will depend very much upon 

 circumstances. If they are introduced, a 

 selection of varieties should be made, — not 

 only to suit the tastes of the family, and to 

 meet certain wants that cannot readily be 

 supplied by the nearest markets. For in- 

 stance ; winter apples can, usually, be pur- 

 chased in market cheaper than a man with 

 limited grounds can aiford to produce them ; 

 and the same is probably true in regard to 

 certain sorts of peaches, plums and pears ; 

 especially in the older and thickly settled 

 portions of the country. The idea should be 

 to produce those kinds which are most profit- 

 able, — not for the market, but the household ; 

 and this will certainly bring us to the more 



