Book II. PLANTING ORCHARDS. 597 



in such parts of those adjoining, as exhibit a red marly soil, are the best farm orchards in 

 England. The chief produce of these orchards is cider and perry ; but as these liquors 

 are not in very general demand in this country, and are confessedly less wholesome and 

 nourishing than malt liquors, their formation cannot be carried to any great extent. 

 It seems desirable, however, that orchards of moderate size should be as generally in- 

 troduced as possible ; as the use of the fruit in pies, tarts, and sauces would add con- 

 siderably to the comforts of the lower classes. Besides, there are some situations, as 

 steep sheltered banks of good soil, which cannot be so profitably employed by any other 

 branch of husbandry. The subject of orchards may be considered in regard to soil and 

 situation, sorts of trees, planting, culture, and the manufacture or disposal of the 

 produce. 



Sect. I. Of the Soils and Situations most suitable for Orchards. 



3771. The sites of all the best apple orchards, and all the chief cider districts, have been 

 discovered by W. Smith to be on the same stratum of red marl which stretches across 

 the island from Dorsetshire to Yorkshire. Fruit, of no kind, indeed, can be raised with 

 much success on a soil that does not contain in its composition a portion of calcareous 

 matter : though apple trees will thrive well on any description of clay which has a dry 

 bottom, and pears and plums on any dry bottomed soil whatever. 



3772. The most desirable aspect is unquestionably a somewhat elevated and naturally 

 sheltered declivity, open to the south and south-east ; but as the author of The Hereford- 

 shire Survey remarks, orchards are now found " in every aspect, and on soil of every 

 quality, and under every culture." The most approved site, he says, is that which is 

 open to the south-east, and sheltered in other points, but particularly in that opposite. 

 Much however depends on the character of the winds of a country, for in some parts of 

 the island, the west, and in others the east, or north wind, is the most injurious to 

 vegetation. 



3773. 2Vie soil which in Herefordshire is considered best adapted to most kinds of 

 apples, is a deep and rich loam when under the culture of the plough; on this, the 

 trees grow with the greatest luxuriance, and produce the richest fruit. Some trees 

 however, the stire and the golden pippins in particular, form exceptions to this general 

 rule, and florish most in hot shallow soils on a lime or sandstone. The best sort of 

 pear-trees also prefer the rich loam, but inferior kinds will even florish where the soil 

 will scarcely produce herbage. An orchard is generally raised with most success and at 

 least expence in a hop yard, the ground under this culture being always well tilled and 

 manured, as well as fenced against every kind of enemy. 



3774. The soils and situations devoted to farm orchards in Scotland are steep clayey 

 banks sheltered from the more violent and injurious winds ; and in whatever part of that 

 country such situations occur, they can scarcely be more profitably employed. Fruit 

 trees of the apple, pear, and cherry kind, especially of the hardier and tall vigorous 

 growing varieties, might be introduced in the hedgerows of dry and moderately sheltered 

 grass-lands in most parts of the British isles. By thus rendering these fruits universal, 

 there would be a considerable accession of enjoyment to the lower classes, and less temp- 

 tation to break into gardens and orchards. 



3775. The political situatio?i most desirable for an orchard is of course near a market 

 town ; or near a ready conveyance to one ; because though the making of cider affords 

 a profit, yet the fruit sold for culinary, or table use, yields a much more considerable 

 one. In The Gloucestershire Report it is stated that the fruit, which would fetch 8/. 16*. 

 unground, would only bring in cyder 31. 1 5s. 



Sect. II. Of the Sorts of Trees and Manner of Planting. 



3776. The most generally useful fruit that can be grown in farm orchards is the apple ; 

 next the pear ; then the plum for tarts, or wine ; and to these may be added the cherry, 

 filbert, walnut, chestnut, and elder. In the cider countries where the climate is more 

 certain than in some others, it is customary to plant but a few good sorts ; and not to 

 mix above one or two sorts together in making cider ; in the northern districts, on the 

 contrary, it is a maxim to plant a considerable number of different sorts, both of those 

 which blossom early and late ; because, should the blossom of one variety be destroyed 

 by a frosty wind, that of another may escape. In cold districts, it is advisable to plant 

 orchards in sheltered hollows, exposed to the sun, and to plant thick; but in the warmer 

 southern counties, many descriptions of cider and perry fruits may be grown to perfection 

 in the hedge-rowsy or as cultured trees in permanent pastures. Tlie fittest trees for such 

 purposes are thbsef which grow tall, with upright shoots, and which bear fruit of a small 

 size ; such as the Siberian pippin apple and squash teinton pear : such trees shade the 

 hedges or pastures less than the spreading kinds, and their fruit being small is less likely 

 to be blown down by high winds. 



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