FRUITS FOR SMALL GARDEN 285 



apples and pears. But the other tree fruits are 

 not of such large growth as the standard apple 

 tree, even the largest — the cherry — taking on 

 more the character of an ornamental tree in 

 those varieties which attain any considerable 

 size. This, in fact, may very well be used in place 

 of a purely ornamental tree for shade, since it will 

 thrive without the special attention other fruit- 

 ing trees need. And inasmuch as cherries are 

 increasingly difficult to obtain in quantity from 

 market, of late years, and as they make really 

 splendid trees as they age, I would most cer- 

 tainly advise planting at least one of the old- 

 fashioned pie cherry trees, invariably. 



It is with the rarer fruits, however, that the 

 greatest personal rewards lie, for the private 

 garden. Peaches are of course obtainable in 

 market, but never in choice varieties. Plums 

 sometimes appear, but of doubtful quality; nec- 

 tarines and apricots are unknown save here and 

 there — yet how delicious they are, and how 

 easily grown too, as a matter of fact ! Wherever 

 peaches are hardy, both apricots and nectarines 

 are; but as they also are naturally early bloom- 

 ers, the great difficulty in growing them is the 

 premature start that they make under our pre- 

 cocious springs. The trees themselves are not 

 killed, but annually their fruit buds are; for 



