CHAPTER IX. 



HOW ART1ZANS IN TOWN MIGHT BEGIN. 



FOR those entirely without experience in gardening, we 

 would say, "go forward, but go slowly and cautiously." 

 It is needful to bear in mind that only once a year, as a 

 rule, the various operations of each recurring season of 

 fruit cultivation are required, and therefore, that at least 

 two or three years of watchful experience is requisite, 

 before one can have a ripe and sound judgment that can 

 be depended on to guide in investing capital safely. 



The young artizan or city clerk, wishing to start 

 without any experienced helpers at hand, ought there- 

 fore to be mindful of the motto, " hasten slowly." 



If circumstances are favourable for his remaining at 

 some other occupation a few years, it would perhaps be 

 as well to begin in a small way by selecting a small 

 plot, in order to raise his own trees on some suburban 

 allotment, at first, where he could run out once a week ; 

 or even once a month in winter will suffice, until his 

 fruit plantation is well established. Let him have the 

 ground thoroughly well and deeply dug, and, unless a 

 rich soil, manured as heavily as can be managed. If 

 acquired daring the summer, such a plot might be 

 worked over two or three times with a view to clear out 



