480 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



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 Service trees are orna- 

 mental 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 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 overestimated, and every 

 country house should possess one. To those who have 

 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, 



