48 THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 



think are as far from their perfection with us as grapes, 

 and yield to those of Normandy, as these to those 

 in Anjou, and even these to those in Gascony. In 

 other fruits the defect of sun is in a great measure 

 supplied by the advantage of walls. 



The next care to that of suiting trees with the soil, 

 is that of suiting fruits to the position of walls. 

 Grapes, peaches, and winter-pears, to be good, must 

 be planted upon full south, or south-east; figs are 

 best upon south-east, but will do well upon east and 

 south-west : the west are proper for cherries, plums 

 or apricots ; but all of them are improved by a south 

 wall both as to early and taste, north, north-west, or 

 north-east, deserve nothing but greens ; these should 

 be divided by woodbines or jessamines between every 

 green, and the other walls, by a vine between every 

 fruit-tree ; the best sorts upon the south walls, the 

 common white and black upon east and west, because 

 the other trees being many of them (especially peaches) 

 were transitory; some apt to die with hard winters, 

 others to be cut down and make room for new fruits : 

 without this method the walls are left for several years 

 unfurnished ; whereas the vines on each side cover the 

 void space in one summer, and when the other trees 



