THE OECHAED. 



perhaps some well-chosen stone fruit trees. If the 

 tenure be pretty secure, and of unlimited duration, then 

 plant without reservation pears, and all other choice 

 fruits, only taking care to plant so far apart as to leave 

 ample space for the increase of every tree that is 

 planted. 



The best situation for an orchard or fruit garden is a 

 gentle slope towards the South, South-east, or East. A 

 North aspect should be avoided, and a West aspect is 

 too much open to tearing winds, and too burning in the 

 afternoon heat to be beneficial. A low, damp situation 

 should be avoided, as no tree will do well and produce 

 fine fruit if its roots are occasionally in water. At the 

 same time a low, sheltered spot, if dry, is better than 

 exposed high land, being less open to cold, and violent 

 wind. 



"With regard to soil, good corn land is said to do well 

 for fruit ; good loam is best. The soil should be neither 

 too light and dry, nor too heavy and stubborn ; if its 

 nature require such treatment, it should be trenched 

 and drained, and its surface should have a sufficient 

 thickness of fine, fertile earth. 



An orchard may be stocked with apples, pears, cherries, 

 or plums. In the fruit garden we may have these and 

 all other fruits ; the vinery, orchard house and frame will 

 give choice fruit earlier than it can be produced out of 

 doors, and every good wall should be made available for 

 apricots, peaches, and nectarines, and the choicest kinds 

 of pears, plums, and cherries. 



If grass land be used as an orchard, it must not be 

 imagined that all may be taken from the land and 

 nothing restored to it. The earth pays double dues in 

 fruit and grass, and therefore it cannot be expected to 

 do its duty and produce fine crops and fine fruit too, 

 unless it be doubly manured : manured on the score of 

 the fruit trees, and again on that of the green or other 

 crop which is taken off it. 



The same may be said of fruit gardens which are also 

 used to grow vegetables. If the vegetables are dug and 

 removed without mercy on the fruit trees, their roots 



B 2 



