ORCHARDS. 



339 



ORCHARDS. 



In forming an orchard, Dr. Lindley recom- 

 mends the early transplanting of the 

 different trees. " They cannot," he says, 

 " be removed from the nursery too soon 

 after the wood has become ripe and the 

 leaves have fallen off, for between this time 

 and the winter many of them will make 

 fresh roots, and be prepared to push forth 

 their young shoots with more vigour in the 

 spring than those whose transplanting has 

 been deferred to a late period of the 

 season." All young trees should be care- 

 fully staked and protected from the wind, 

 and, if a dry spring should succeed the 

 autumn of their planting, they will require 

 to be watered, or, what is better, to have 

 manure laid round their roots and to be 

 watered through it. Pruning and training 

 are necessary ; but, as a general rule, the 

 knife should be avoided, if it is possible to 

 bring the tree into a good shape without it. 

 Pear-trees will thrive in a lighter soil than 

 apples, and they are generally more hardy, 

 and bear the wind better. In a good soil, 

 the distance at which trees should stand 

 from each other is from twenty-five to 

 thirty feet ; if all free-growing varieties 

 are planted, it may perhaps be desirable 

 to give from thirty to forty feet between 

 them, and in all cases the quincunx mode, 

 as already stated, is the best. 



In selecting apples and pears for plant- 

 ing, and, indeed, all fruits that admit of 

 sorts, it is of the greatest importance to 

 take into consideration not only soil but 

 climate. Very little good is gained by 

 selecting the best varieties if they, or any 

 of them, are not suited to the locality. 

 Disappointment too often follows want of 

 judgment in this respect. Whoever intends 

 to plant an orchard, especially of apples 

 and pears, should ascertain, in the first 

 instance, what sorts flourish best in his part 

 of the country. He should then select the 

 best of these, and introduce such other 

 sorts as, from their resemblance to them, 



may seem likely to answer. The following 

 lists are taken from the catalogue of Messrs, 

 George Bunyard & Co, Pomologists, Maid- 

 stone. 



The sorts are undoubtedly all good, and 

 the descriptions accurate ; but intending 

 buyers are advised to tell the grower what 

 kind of soil the trees are to be planted 

 in, and leave it to him to make a selection 

 of fitting sorts, as it must not be assumed 

 that every kind of apple is equally well 

 adapted to every locality. 



TWENTY-FOUR ORCHARD APPLES. 

 K. kitchen purposes ; T. table. 



1. Alfriston, K., large, round, skin light orange 

 next the sun, greenish-yellow in the shade ; flesh 

 yellowish, crisp, sharply acid; November to 

 March. A fruitful variety and showy grower. 



2. Bedfordshire Foundling, K. t T., very large, 

 pale green when ripe; flesh yellowish, acid. 

 November to December. A handsome apple, 

 of Blenheim Orange style and flavour. 



3. Bismarck, /T., large, possesses the weight and 

 texture of a Wellington, with a bronzy red cheek. 

 A valuable and distinct variety, proving to be a 

 remarkably free bearer, and a hardy, vigorous 

 grower. October to January. 



4. Blenheim Orange, /f., T., very large, ovate, 

 yellowish, red next the sun ; flesh yellow, sugary. 

 November to June. 



5. Bramley's Seedling, K., T. large fine 

 orchard fruit, making a vigorous tree. A valu- 

 able, heavy, late keeper, free and constant 

 bearer, flat, with dull red cheek, first-rate, brisk 

 acid flavour. December to April. 



6. Cox's Orange Pippin, r., medium, ot Ribston 

 flavour, great bearer, the finest dessert apple, 

 good habit, excellent as garden tree, prefers a 

 warm, rich soil. November to January. 



7. Devonshire Quarrenden, T., this is the 

 famous "sack apple" of the western counties. 

 Medium size, deep crimson ; flesh greenish-white, 

 often streaked or flushed with crimson, juicy, 

 subacid. August. 



8. Dumelow's Seedling. fC., large, round, 

 yellow and light red; flesh yellow, first-rate. 

 November to March. Also known as Wellington 

 and Normanton Wonder. 



g. Ecklinville Seedling, K., large and a free 

 bearer; one of the best Codlins for garden 

 culture, succeeding in all forms. September to 

 October. 



10. Fearn's Pippin, T., full medium size, round, 

 and handsome, greenish yellow, russety, and 

 bright red ; flesh greenish-white, sweet, and 

 rich-flavoured. February to March. 



n. Gascoyne's Scarlet Seedling, K., T., 

 large ; a distinct red-cheeked apple, extremely 

 handsome, a great bearer, and a healthy, free 

 grower. Fruit of agreeable flavour. November 

 to February. Called also Glory of England. 



