220 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [March. 



only at night, in sharp frosts and cutting frosty winds, that the 

 blossoms require to be thus sheltered. 



Or, to preserve the blossoms and young fruit, you may occasion- 

 ally stick the trees with the cuttings of hardy evergreen trees and 

 shrubs, sticking them between the branches in a somewhat spread- 

 ing manner, so as the leaves may afford some protection to the 

 blossom, and which I have found to be often very serviceable. 



This should also be done just when the trees are coming into 

 blossom, having; cuttings of the shoots and small branches of laurel, 

 yew, pine, and some other hardy evergreens, preserving the leaves 

 to them, and being placed between the branches in the manner 

 before observed, so as to shelter those which are in blossom; they 

 must be permitted to remain constantly till the fruit is fairly set 

 as big as large peas. 



Planting Fruit Trees. 



Fruit trees of all kinds may be planted any time this month, 

 when the weather is open, with success, but the sooner in the 

 month the better, before they begin to shoot; they will now take 

 root in a short time, and with the assistance of a little water in dry 

 weather, will grow freely. 



Let every kind be planted at proper distances, both for espaliers 

 and walls, and also in standards, that they may have room to grow 

 without interfering with each other in the course of a few years; 

 which is often the case in many gardens, more particularly with 

 wall trees and espaliers. 



Peaches, nectarines, and apricots should never be planted nearer 

 than fifteen feet asunder, against walls or espaliers; nor need they 

 be planted more than eighteen or twenty feet distant. 



Apples and pears, for walls and espaliers, should be planted fifteen 

 to eighteen or twenty feet asunder; but, in some cases, twenty-five 

 feet is a more eligible distance, especially for some sorts of free- 

 shooting pears; though it appears considerable at first, yet if graft- 

 ed, &c. upon free stocks, they will readily fill that space, and bear 

 considerably better than if confined so as to require to be often 

 shortened to continue them within bounds; however, generally 

 allow those on dwarf stocks not less than fifteen feet, the others 

 eighteen or twenty feet distant. 



Plums and cherries designed for walls and espaliers should be 

 planted from fifteen to eighteen or twenty feet distance. 



The above distances advised in planting the different sorts of 

 wall and espalier trees, appear great when the trees are first plant- 

 ed; but in a few years the advantage of allowing them proper room 

 will be manifest: and it should be observed to allow trees planted 

 against low walls a greater distance than for higher, in order 

 that in default ol height, there may be proper scope to extend them 

 horizontally. 



For the particular soil and situation proper for the different kinds, 

 see the Fruit Garden in October and November; and also the 

 Orchard in this month. 



