The Feuit Garden, 



111 



VII. 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



But forward in the name of God, graffe, set, plant, and nourish up trees In every coi-ner of 

 your grounds, the labour is small, the cost is nothing, the commoditle is great, yourselvea 

 shall have plenty, the poore shall have somewhat in time of want to relieve their necessitie, 

 and God shall reward your good mindes and diligence.— C?erarde. 



L— A HINT OE TWO. 



HE lamented Downing says : " He who owns 

 a rood of proper land in this country, and, 

 in the face of the pomonal riches of the 

 dav, raises only crabs and choke-pears, 

 deserves to lose the respect of all sensible 

 men. Yet there are many in utter igno- 

 rance of most of the delicious fruits of modern days — 

 who seem to live under some ban of expulsion from 

 all the fair and goodly productions of the garden." 



Such persons are still to be found, but their number 

 is rapidly decreasing ; and there are few who will not 

 thoughtfully heed the quaint exhortation which we have chosen 

 for the motto of this chapter. 



After what we have said in our third and fifth chapters 

 (which see), but few introductory hints will here be necessary. 

 Let it be remembered that the plot set apart for the fruit gar- 

 den should be thoroughly prepared before you commence 

 planting ; that the soil should be very deep (not less than two 

 feet), and thoroughly broken up ; that it must be moderately 

 rich ; that it should be well drained if the nature of the soil 

 require it, and that a careful attention to the directions we 

 have given under the heads of transplanting, budding, grafting, 

 pruning, etc., are essential to success. Specific directions, 

 when necessary, will be given under the name of each species. 



