328 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



families a small orchard is indeed a boon, and if planted 

 with early, mid-season, and late varieties of Apples and Pears, 

 the happy owner is enabled to supply his children with deli- 

 cious apple puddings and pies for eight months in the year. 

 Moreover, in plentiful seasons, there are always more Apples, 

 Pears, and Plums than can be used at home, and these, if 

 carefully picked and packed, can be profitably disposed of at 

 the nearest town. Then a small orchard can be tilled with the 

 spade at small cost, and vegetables and choice small fruits, 

 such as Strawberries, Gooseberries, and Black Currants, may 

 be grown between the rows of fruit trees for several years, 

 and thus the usefulness of the orchard is increased. In small 

 gardens, even, space can generally be found for a small 

 orchard, whereas a large one is quite out of the question. 

 Of course, its utility will largely depend upon the varieties of 

 fruits grown in it, and the kind of stocks they are worked on. 

 Apple trees should be in bush form and be grafted on the 

 Paradise stock, and Pears on the Quince, as then they com- 

 mence bearing fruit the first year after planting, which is a 

 great advantage. When Apples are grafted on the Crab many 

 years often elapse before they commence to fruit. It is also 

 necessary, in order to realise the full usefulness of a small 

 orchard, that only a small number of early Apples be planted, 

 as these will not keep long. A fair number of mid-season 

 sorts may be allowed, but at least one-half the number of 

 Apple trees should consist of late keeping sorts, as they are 

 the most useful in every way. Of Pears a fair number of 

 trees of Swan's Egg, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and Doyenne du 

 Cornice may be planted ; but stewing Pears are the most 

 useful, and they will keep until May. Few fruit preparations 

 are more delicious than a dish of Catillac, Vicar of Winkfield, 

 or Suffolk Orange, and children enjoy the wholesome meal. 

 The best way to stew them is to peel and put them into an 

 earthen jar in a syrup, seal the jar, and place them in a steady 

 oven until soft and brown. 



As already stated, small fruits and small vegetables may be 

 grown between the fruit trees for several years, and what is 

 more useful in the household than Strawberries, Gooseberries, 

 and Currants, or a good supply of wholesome vegetables. 

 The best trees to plant round an orchard for shelter are 

 Damsons, Bullaces, and Nuts. Plant a Filbert or Cobnut 

 between every Damson and Bullace, and in two years there 

 will be a perfect hedge. Bullaces and Damsons being very 

 hardy invariably bear good crops of fruit, and they make 

 delicious puddings and pies ; and Wine Nuts are quite as 

 useful too. 



