TWO NEW FOKMS OF TRAINING WALL TREES. 251 



the flavour of Asparagus and Cauliflower. In my opinion it is 

 the most delicate vegetable I have ever eaten. 



So much is it esteemed by the Portuguese, that they think tlie 

 English cannot fail to like it, and are making attempts to export 

 it for the London market, as it will keep in a fresh state a 

 long time. I think it could be easily cultivated in England : 

 growing as it does through the summer months, and producing its 

 fruit at a cold season, it would merely require protecting from 

 tlie frost. Yielding its fruit at a time when vegetables are 

 usually scarce, it would be invaluable to gardeners, and a great 

 addition to the dinner-table. 



Tlie Caiota attains the weight of two to three pounds, delights 

 in a rich soil, and will grow trailing on the ground in the same 

 manner as the Vegetable Marrow ; but the approved way of 

 cultivating it by the Portuguese is to plant it against, and allow it 

 to run over, a high wall. It will bear pruning to any extent. 

 The fruit of the Caiota has a rugged, roundish form, of a pale 

 yellow colour, and somewiiat resembles the fruit of the Shad- 

 dock ; the pulp is pure white. 



In tlie list of vegetables that succeed in the island, I ouo-ht to 

 have mentioned Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, and Turnips. Pota- 

 toes became diseased at the same time as in England, and the 

 disease still continues, more or less, in certain localities. Potatoes 

 planted in December will produce in Marcii ; the same tubers 

 being kept a sliort time, and again put in the ground, will 

 produce another crop ; and a third crop can be had almost 

 within the year. I have had four crops of French Beans in the 

 same way. 



XXVII. — Two Neiu Forms in which Wall Trees may he 



trained.* 



By none of the methods hitherto employed can trees trained on 

 walls be established in less time tlian from 11 to 21 years 

 according to the kind of tree. Take, for example, a. Peach-tree 

 trained half horizontally against a wall 10 ft. high (H<>-. 1) ; this 

 form is one of the simplest and most easily obtained, and 10 ft. 

 are, upon the whole, the most convenient height for the wall. Let 

 us further suppose that Peach-trees are planted alono- the wall 

 at a distance of 7 yards from each other ; each tree will then 

 cover a surface of 25 square yards. Experience shows that 

 this space is necessary in order that these trees, planted in a 



* Translated from the French of M. Du Ijreuil. 



