CULTIVATION OF FRUIT 327 



tree would thrive, it is just at its happiest, and is most fruitful. 

 Then many Apples are extremely ornamental ; and there is a 

 whole range of Crabs Siberian, Chinese, John Downie, Dart- 

 mouth, and other home-raised hybrids that are delightful 

 things both in flower and fruit. Pyrus Malus, vieing in 

 beauty of bloom with its near relatives the Japanese Quinces, 

 quite outdoes them in glory and bounty of fruit, so brilliant 

 in the autumn garden. 



There are no better garden ornaments for foliage than 

 Figs and Vines, and though the needful pruning of a Vine 

 for fruit takes off somewhat from its pictorial value, which 

 depends in some measure on the wide-flung luscious summer 

 growth and groping tendril, yet in any shape the Grape Vine 

 is a thing of beauty. Some of its garden kinds also show how, 

 in distinct departures in colour and shape of leaf, it is always 

 beautiful, for the parsley-leaved Vine, with its dainty and 

 deeply-cut foliage, is a suitable accompaniment to the most 

 refined architecture ; while the red purple leaf of the Claret 

 Vine and its close clusters of blue fruit are richly ornamental 

 in autumn. 



A Medlar tree, with its large white bloom, and handsome 

 leaves, is desirable, and several of the Services are ornamental 

 small trees. 



Every one knows the lovely pink bloom of the Almond in 

 April ; but few may have tried something that is not an experi- 

 ment but a certainty, viz., the successful culture of the hardier 

 Peaches, near relatives to the Almond, as standards in the 

 south of England. A Peach of American origin, the Early 

 Alexander, bears full or fair crops every year. The only 

 danger is from leaf blisters from sudden cold in May ; but if 

 its place is sheltered, or if it can be afforded the protection of 

 a net, it will suffer but little, and perfectly ripened Peaches, 

 red all round, may be had at the end of July. 



The beauty of Cherry blossom is so well known that it 

 needs no extolling ; and any great and high wall looks the 

 better at all seasons for a well-trained-on Pear. 



A free planting of the cut-leaved Bramble is pleasant to 

 see on the outskirts of the garden, and is beautiful in leaf, in 

 flower, and in fruit. 



A SMALL ORCHARD 



The usefulness of a small orchard when judiciously planted 

 and well managed can scarcely be over-estimated, and every 

 country house should possess one. To those who have 



