CULTURE OP HARDY FRUITS. 63 



half filled with watery syrup, and hung upon the trees. 

 Coverings of netting are employed to protect against the 

 ravages of small birds : and this is preferable to shooting 

 them ; for among these feathered enemies it must be con- 

 fessed with regret that not only the engaging Robin Red- 

 breast but the melodious Blackbird fall to be numbered. 



CULTURE OP HARDY FRUITS. 



In proceeding to treat of the more special culture of the 

 inmates of a British or American fruit garden, we shall begin 

 with the more tender ; but for details regarding these, 

 reference may, to a considerable extent, be made to the 

 Forcing department, in which alone many of the finer fruits 

 can be perfected. 



The GRAPE VINE ( Vitis vinifera) can scarcely be said 

 to be a hardy fruit in the English climate. In every case 

 it requires a good aspect ; and north of York, a crop of des- 

 sert grapes cannot be expected without the aid of a hot wall. 

 In the extreme south-west districts of England, grapes fit 

 for the manufacture of wine, perhaps equal in quality to 

 those in the north of France, might be produced on dwarf 

 standards; and there is abundant historical evidence 

 that productive vineyards once existed in that part of the 

 country. 



In the London Horticultural Society's Catalogue, 182 

 varieties of grapes are enumerated. Some of those, how- 

 ever, have not as yet been well ascertained ; some are pro- 

 nounced indifferent, and others worthless. We shall name 

 only a few of those most deserving the attention of the cul- 

 tivator. 



