156 THE FRUIT GARDEN, 



thriven in a singular manner. In other cases, an 

 orchard has been planted by a proprietor, or per- 

 haps by a peasant, in a chance corner of good soil, 

 which, by having prospered in a superlative degree, 

 has enticed others in its vicinity to plant : and hence 

 have orchards been spread over large districts of 

 country, variously situated, and of various soils. 



Many of our orchards have risen out of another 

 circumstance, namely, they have originally been 

 planted by the religious, in the days when too many 

 of a certain class of men were idle, and otherwise 

 were drones in the hive. Wherever the cloister has 

 stood, may be found the remains of the apple and 

 the pear ; and to the monks we are indebted for the 

 introduction of the best fruits in the country. 

 These men were generally good gardeners, and dis- 

 played great judgment in the choice of the situation 

 and soil of their orchards. Indeed, this choice of- 

 ten regulated the situation of the cathedral. They 

 seldom established themselves in situations unfa- 

 vourable for the rearing of orchards ; the cultiva- 

 tion of fruits and flowers being their favourite a- 

 musement. 



Hence we find, that many of the ancient orchards, 

 probably often by the direction of the Monks, have 

 heen admirably situated on sloping banks, in good 

 soil, and where they have been completely shelter- 

 ed by the. cast of the ground, or by woods. A bet- 

 ter example cannot be followed by the public or by 

 the private orchardist. Let him who intends plant- 

 ing an orchard, by which he expects to gain his 

 bread, study the choice exhibited hy the Monks, 



