CHAP. Ill VILLA GAKDENING 239 



the shape of very large individual orders as in the increased 

 number of small ones. Evidently the attention that has been 

 given to fruit cidtm-e of late years by writers and speakers is being 

 felt by those for whom it was intended, but only the fringe of the 

 subject has yet been touched. As regards the Apple, 



The Standard Form grafted on the Crab is undoubtedly the 

 most i^rofitable kind of tree to plant where the soil is deep and 

 good, and the force of the wind can be broken. In the first place 

 the labom' required in management is not great. After the first 

 season all the work required will be to look over the trees once a 

 year, and remove where necessary any branch that may be en- 

 croaching upon a neighbour. Assuming that the trees are planted 

 as soon as the leaves fall in autumn, they "will need staking and 

 midching immediately. The roots will be at work before the 

 buds move in spring, and as soon as the sap is on the move head 

 the trees back to form a base cutting to within four or six buds, 

 according to strength of branch. After the first year, unless the 

 growth becomes very irregidar, there should be no necessity to cut 

 back. By planting early in autumn, and encouraging early root 

 action, all the black eyes will burst in spring, and the foundation 

 for a handsome tree may be easily laid. If it is intended to have 

 a crop of any kind beneath the standard tree, the latter should 

 have stems of not less than 6 feet high. Sometimes in windy 

 places dwarf trees on the Crab or the free stock are planted and 

 allowed the same freedom of growth as is given to the standards, 

 and though they succeed well, there is not the same facility for 

 planting any crop beneath. In shallow soils, where the strongei'- 

 rooted stocks will produce mischief by their natiu'al inclination to 

 nm down. 



Apples Grafted on the Paradise Stock have very often 

 been a great success, and where they have not the failure 

 has been chiefly owing to a want of appreciation on the 

 part of the cultivator. It should never be forgotten that a 

 surface-rooting plant must find its food on the sm-face, and this 

 must be supplied in the shape of mulching. Digging with the 

 spade woidd be ruinous ; but about ]\Iarch the loose mulch may 

 be drawn off", and the crust just lightened ujj a little with a 

 fork to let in the air to sweeten and pulverise the soil. When 

 this has been done before the weather becomes hot and dry, the 

 midching should be replaced. For the production of really first- 

 class fruit perhaps no system is superior to the 



Espalier. — It is true the first cost is considerable, but if the 

 wire and standards are strong, and the work well put up and 

 painted as required, the cost, when spread over the period of its 



