92 ESPALIERS. 



But should your taste be over fastidious, it may 

 be observed that the fruit raised on espaliers, of 

 which every branch has an equal portion of the 

 sun, is greatly superior to that of standard trees ; 

 besides, trees of the former description, whilst they 

 yield a great deal of fruit, take up little or no 

 ground ; and, being kept so low, they do more good 

 by sheltering than harm by shading the crops or 

 flowers. 



But to determine finally the question as to orna- 

 ment, take a survey of your garden after one of 

 those gales with which we are usually visited about 

 the autumnal equinox, and see the havoc that is 

 made amongst the standard trees: one half of the 



o 



fruit is thrown down, and every fallen apple or pear 

 has received a mortal wound; some are deeply 

 bruised, others are pierced with small stones, yet 

 sticking in the flesh, and some have taken a dimple 

 scarcely perceptible, but even that is an irreparable 

 injury, and not one fruit in a thousand so hurt 

 will keep for any length of time. But observe also 

 how the unfallen have suffered by the shock of the 

 tempest their heads have been dashed together, 

 or they have been rubbed against the larger 

 branches, or lashed all day and all night by the 

 smaller twigs, till their natural colour is lost in the 

 multitude of stripes and blows. That they have 

 not fallen is no proof of their safety they have 

 perished, but having less maturity, they have been 

 more tenacious of life, and are found after the 

 storm, like those more resolute seamen whose dead- 



