238 VILLA GAEDENING part hi 



spade. The itpper or top crop (referring again to the fruit garden) 

 should Ije composed of tall standard Apples and Pears at not less 

 than 25 feet apart; Plums and Cherries, at from 15 feet to 20 

 feet, according to kinds ; whilst rows of Filberts and Nuts may- 

 intersect at suitable points. The bush fruits underneath should be 

 planted in rows 6 feet apart, and be 5 feet asunder in the rows. 

 The Raspberries and Black Currants should be planted where the 

 land is moist and deep, and they do fairly well in more shade than 

 suits other fruits. The shelter of the tall trees will benefit the 

 bashes in cold springs, and the undergrowth will be of some advan- 

 tage in checkiug the keen currents which woidd rush fiercely 

 beneath the heads of the standard trees where no undergrowth 

 exists. In this way the system is well-nigh perfect ; in fact, in 

 my humble opinion, there is no better or surer way of obtaining a 

 good supply of fruit at the cheapest rate than that of the mixed 

 garden or orcliard. In the preparation of the ground, trench it up 

 deeply in winter, when labour can be hired cheaply. In spring 

 plant it with Potatoes to clean and free it from weeds, and the 

 free use of the fork and hoe during the progress of the Potato crop 

 w^ll be of great advantage. In the autumn plant the trees as soon 

 as the leaves fiiU. Some one who understands such matters should 

 select them, to ensure healthy trees witli straight stout stems. 

 The Apples, being the hardiest, should be i)lanted on the windward 

 side ; then might come a plantation of Pears, Plums, and Cherries. 

 Positions will also be found for dwarf Apples on the Paradise, and 

 Pears on the Quince, so that all systems of culture may be repre- 

 sented. It often happens that when the tall trees fail the dwarf 

 ones nearer the ground are well cropped. This is the outcome of 

 the fickle natiu-e of our climate, which, in spite of all our efforts to 

 screen and shelter, will make itself felt. It will be seen from what 

 I have written that I advocate the giving up of the sheltered en- 

 closiu-es to the fruit, and moving the vegetables a little farther out, 

 where, so far as regards the Potatoes at least, expensive manual 

 labour wiU not be so much required. Whatever cheapens and 

 simplifies gardening helps to spread its influence. In the following 

 chapters I shall take our cultivated fruits in rotation, beginning 

 with the Apple ; and whilst giving all necessary details as regards 

 culture, will yet be as brief as possible. 



CHAPTER III 



The Apple. — I hear from niu-serymeu of my acquaintance that 

 the demand for fruit trees is increasing, and that not so much in 



