FENCES, WALLS, AND SHELTERS. 91 



«5cupy the centre of the square, which, he reckons, yield, on estimate, fourteen 

 bushels of finest pears, and an " abundant provision for the table, throughout 

 the season, of cherries and plums ;" while vines, figs, and winter pears are 

 not forgotten, each sort suitably placed to the sun, which, with good manage- 

 ment, may reasonably afford every year a sufficient variety as well as quantity 

 of the best fruits." Such is the opinion of the Kev. John Lawrence, based 

 on the result of his own skilful management. 



215. The following remarks of our experienced contributor Mr. D. T. Fish 

 will be found of great interest ; exemplifying, as they do, his own practice : — 

 The introduction of orchard-houses has, or ought to have, revolutionized 

 the whole practice of the culture of tender fruit in the open air. Except in 

 the most highly-favoured locaHties, I would not advise furnishing walls with 

 peaches and nectarines, unless provision were made for covering them with 

 glass in early spring and in late wet autumns. The safety of the blossom and 

 embrj^o fruit, and maturation of the wood, would thus be insured. It would 

 be wiser, however, to devote the best walls to the culture of pears and plums, 

 and to erect orchard-houses for all other stone fruit, and the tenderer varieties 

 and choicer sorts of plums. I think the latter cheaper, more efficient, and 

 certain than glass walls. As the erection, furnishing, and culture of these 

 houses will be intrusted to other hands, I wish to give my emphatic opinion 

 here in favour of planting the trees out rather than growing them in pots. 

 Success is probable and possible enough by pot-culture ; with ordinary care it 

 is certain, if the trees are planted out in good loam. 



216. But we have been so long accustomed to grow peaches and nectarines 

 on walls, that many will still insist upon doing so ; and therefore the best de- 

 scriptions of walls, most approved methods of protection, &c., continue to be 

 subjects of the first importance. No material for kitchen-garden walls can 

 equal good red brick of medium hardness of texture. The joints should be 

 formed as narrow as possible, of the best lime and sharp sand, and can either 

 be left white, or the lime can be coloured a few shades lighter than the bricks. 

 The bricks are better without any colouring whatever. This is not only the 

 best-looking wall, but the plants are easier trained to it, and are probably 

 subject to fewer alterations of temperature upon its surface than they would 

 be upon a wall of any other substance or colour. Walls should never be less 

 than 8 or more than 14 feet high, and may vary from 9 to 22 inches in thick- 

 ness. From 10 to 12 feet is a good average height, and 14 inches in thickness 

 ■will impart strength enough for that height. Sometimes walls 6 feet high are 

 built only 4^ inches thick, and in this form to impart strength. A 4^ -inch 

 curved wall of this form will resist as much 



pressure as a straight wall 9 inches thick 



without piers. As a rule, however, all 



ikitchen garden-walls should be straight ; 



and they are not sate without piers, unless formed of brick-and-a-half, or 14 



inches thick. All walls for fhiit- trees should also be furnished with a copiag 



