KITCHEN-GARDEN AND ORCHARD 51 



position should always be chosen, and if the trees are 

 to be grown on the plantation system, that is on arable 

 land, there is no need for the site to be easily approached 

 from the pleasure grounds. Except during the blossom 

 season the utility orchard is not particularly beautiful, 

 and there is little inducement for visitors to make it part 

 of their round of inspection. However, it should 

 always be so situated that the fruit may be safe from 

 trespassers, who are often troublesome when the 

 orchard is close to a main road. 



The old grass land orchard, filled with picturesque 

 standard trees, is capable of being made a wild garden 

 of true beauty. In early spring we may have troops of 

 golden daffodils and silvery narcissi, making vistas of 

 colour among the lines of grey trunks. Ropes of purple 

 and white clematis may festoon the trees, and some of 

 the semi-wild roses, with their rich foliage and single 

 flowers will fill the hedges and ramble over the banks. 

 The cool swordlike foliage of Iris, with the stately 

 spikes of flowers, the old-fashioned holly-hocks and 

 spreading clumps of poppies, may all find a home in the 

 chequered shade of the orchard. White Madonna lilies 

 will fringe the pathway, and honeysuckle and sweet- 

 briar would welcome us at the gate. But lest I be 

 misunderstood this orchard, lovely though it be and 

 easy of attainment, is not for fruit ; at least the crops 

 will be small and blemished, and very different to those 

 from the market grower's plantation, where the idea of 

 climbers twisting among the branches of the trees 

 would be regarded as an act of vandalism. But to the 

 lover of flowers, the setting of an old orchard is so 

 precious, that some sacrifice is willingly made to enable 

 the possession of this kind of wild garden. 



