GENERAL PRACTICE. FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 75 



Cottage Fruit Gardening. Making a garden wherever practicable in conjunction with 

 a dwelling-house tends to promote the health and enjoyment of its occupants. Its value 

 on these grounds cannot be over-estimated, but when those advantages are combined 

 with utility and profit, the value of a garden is greatly enhanced. Acquirement of 

 land for gardens is often difficult near large towns and some villages, because of its 

 value for building purposes ; therefore, it is all the more necessary to make the best 

 possible use of the little that can be had for fruit culture. Much more is often 

 accomplished in a small space by proper cultural attention and management than in 

 double the area under negligent culture and improper arrangement. Mere size affords 

 no criterion of the amount of interest and profit to be derived from a fruit garden; 

 therefore, it is essential that the requisite cultural knowledge be acquired by its owner 

 or occupier. When this is possessed and industriously applied, it is surprising what 

 an amount of wholesome produce may be derived from a small plot of ground. 



The plan of a cottage and garden on the next page is arranged with a view to 

 providing a supply of fruit for home use or sale, and is one of two cottages built 

 on a little over half an acre of land, each tenant having a corresponding extent of 

 allotment for the growth of vegetables. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Eesidences of the " well-to-do" in suburban and rural districts often have a piece of 

 ground attached which the owner or occupier finds useful under grass to supply green 

 food for a horse, or to afford a run for poultry. Part is readily given up to grow fruit for 

 the household, but grass cannot be dispensed with, and what is done must be done well. 

 Usually, half the ground available is, or might be, set apart as a fruit garden, and the 

 other half kept as an orchard. The ground is duly prepared, and the part devoted to 

 grass sown down ; but, as a rule, the ground is already in grass, and the trees only need 

 planting. The common plan is to dig round holes a foot or two wide and deep, cram the 

 roots into them, fill with soil, and relay the turves : that is the worst method, the best 

 being to well dig and prepare the ground in strips six feet wide, and plant the trees in 

 them. The roots then have freedom to extend, and the trees make excellent growth. 

 They may be planted as close again as is usual for permanent orchard trees, and in a few 

 years' time every alternate tree may be removed and replanted, or destroyed to afford the 

 others the room they need for development. 



An arrangement of the character indicated is shown in Fig. 13, page 77. 



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