Jan.] THE ORCHARD. 45 



also almonds, quinces, gooseberries, currants, raspberries, and 

 every other kind of hardy fruit bearing trees and shrubs, which 

 are usually planted either in the fruit-garden or orchard. 



You may also prune each and every of the above kinds, according 

 to the directions given in this month, March and October; ami in 

 the two last months you will find ample instructions, both for pre- 

 paring the ground and planting the various kinds of fruit trees 

 above mentioned. 



THE ORCHARD. 



The Orchard is a department consigned entirely to the growth of 

 standard fruit trees for furnishing a large supply of the most useful 

 kinds of fruit; in which you may have as standards, apple, pear, 

 plum, cherry, peach, apricot, quince, almond, and nectarine trees; 

 also mulberries, filberts, medlars, and berberries; Spanish chestnuts 

 and English walnuts; which two latter are more particularly appli- 

 cable for the boundaries of large orchards, in which they will screen 

 the other trees from impetuous winds and cold blasts, all of which 

 are to be arranged in rows at the distances directed in March and 

 October; in which months you will find ample directions for raising, 

 propagating, and planting the various kinds of fruit trees necessary 

 for all the departments. 



But sometimes orchards consist entirely of apple trees, particu- 

 larly when apples are wanted in large quantities for cider or whis- 

 key-making; and sometimes whole orchards of very considerable 

 extent of peach trees, when the fruit is designed for distillation; 

 likewise entire orchards of cherry trees, but particularly within a 

 moderate distance of large cities and towns where sale can be 

 obtained for the fruit; pear orchards are also extensive where 

 people are in the habit of making perry. 



A general orchard, however, composed of all the before men- 

 tioned fruit trees, should consist of a treble or more proportion of 

 apple and peach trees, because they are considerably the most use- 

 ful fruits, particularly the former, as they, exclusive of their use in 

 distilling and cider-making, may be continued for table use, in the 

 different sorts, the whole year round. 



The utility of a general orchard, or orchards, both for private 

 use and profit, stored with the various sorts of fruit trees, must be 

 very great, as well as afford infinite pleasure from the delightful 

 appearance it makes from early spring till late in autumn; in 

 spring the various trees in blossom are highly ornamental; in 

 summer the pleasure is heightened by observing the various truits 

 advancing to perfection; and as the season advances, the mature 

 growth of the different sorts arriving to perfection in regular suc- 

 cession, from May until the end of October, must afford great de- 

 light as well as profit 



