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PRACTICE OF GARDENING. Part III. 



Chap. III. 

 Of the Formation and Planting of an Orchard, subsidiary to the Kitchen-garden. 



2527. An orchard, or separate plantation of the hardier fruit-trees is a common ap- 

 pendage to the kitchen-garden, where that department is small, or does not contain 

 an adequate number of fruit-trees to supply the contemplated demand of the family. Some- 

 times this scene adjoins the garden, and forms a part of the slip ; at other times it forms 

 a detached, and, perhaps, distant enclosure, and not unfrequently, in countries where the 

 soil is propitious to fruit-trees, they are distributed in the lawn, or in a scene, or field 

 kept in pasture. Sometimes the same object is effected by mixing fruit-trees in the plant- 

 ations near the garden and house. 



2528. As to the situation, exposure, soil, and shelter of orchards, most of the observations 

 submitted as to these properties in kitchen-gardens will equally apply to them ; but 

 there is this difference, that as orchards are not generally surrounded by walls, and 

 not always under the spade, the surface may be much more irregular ; and, in regard to 

 form, it is a matter of no great consequence. Size will of course be regulated by the 

 quantity of produce desired, and nothing can be more simple than the arrangement of 

 the trees which, in regard to position, is almost always that of the quincunx, the distances 

 between the plants being greater or less according to the sorts made choice of. 



2529. As to the site of an orchard, Abercrombie observes, " land sloping to the east or 

 south is better than a level ; a sheltered hollow, not liable to floods, is better than an 

 upland with the same aspect, and yet a gentle rising, backed by sufficient shelter, or the 

 base of a hill, is eligible. A good loam, in which the constituents of a good soil predo- 

 minate over those of a hot one, suits most fruit-trees : the sub-soil should be dry, and the 

 depth of mould thirty inches or three feet. Before planting, drain if necessary ; trench 

 to the depth of two feet ; manure according to the defects of the soil ; and give a win- 

 ter and summer fallow ; or cultivate the site for a year or two as a kitchen-garden, so 

 that it may be deeply dug, and receive a good annual dressing." 



2530. In a situation much exposed, plant shrubs or wilding fruits, as screens, or as 

 nurses : forest-trees may be planted as an outer screen, but on a distant line, whence 

 their roots will not draw the soil to be occupied with fruit-trees. Where ornamental 

 grounds present a good aspect, as well as prepared shelter, fruit-trees are distributed 

 in them to great advantage. 



2531. As to the size of an orchard, Forsyth observes, " it may be from one to twenty 

 acres, or more, according to the quantity of fruit wanted, or the quantity of ground that 

 you may have fit for the purpose." 



2532. That soil will do for an orchard which produces good crops of corn, grass, or 

 garden-vegetables ; but a loamy soil is to be preferred ; though any of a good quality, 

 not too light or dry, nor wet, heavy, or stubborn, but of a moderately soft and pliant 

 nature, will be found to answer the end. Shingly and gravelly soils disagree very much 

 with fruit-trees, unless there be loam intermixed. They will succeed much better on a 

 chalk bottom. On such a soil, I have seen roots twelve feet deep, and trees thrive well. 

 The soil should be trenched from two to three feet deep. 



2533. The sorts of fruits adapted for orchards are the more hardy apples, pears, cherries, 

 and plums ; the medlar, mulberry, quince, walnut, chestnut, filbert, barberry, and some 

 others. According to Forsyth, a complete orchard ought to have, besides apple, pear, 

 plum, and cherry trees, quinces, medlars, mulberries, service-trees, filberts, and barber- 

 ries ; as also walnuts and chestnuts ; the two latter of which are well adapted for 

 sheltering the others from high winds, and should therefore be planted in the bound- 

 aries of the orchard, a little closer than ordinary, for that purpose. In an orchard for 

 raising crops for sale, Abercrombie says, that fruit is the most profitable for which there 

 is the greatest demand. Apples are first in utility ; but pears, cherries, plums, and 

 most other fruits in the subjoined alphabetical list, are acceptable, for dressing in paste, 

 for preserving, or for pickling, as well as in the dessert. According to the extent and 

 nature of the ground, mulberries, medlars, quinces, services, walnuts, chestnuts, and all 

 the sorts which will ripen their produce sufficiently on standards, may be introduced. 



2534. The varieties of the common orchard-fruits recommended by Nicol, are as follows, 

 the sorts marked with an asterisk (*) being preferable : 



*Ribston pippin, *oslin ditto, *gogar 

 ditto, *kentish ditto, *roval codling, 

 *kentish ditto, * Carlisle ditto, *royal 

 russet, wheeler's ditto, *royal pearmain, 

 *loan's ditto (good), *goiden rennet, 

 *kentish ditto (good), *grey leading- 

 ton, scarlet ditto, summer queening, 

 winter ditto, * yorlcshire greening, 

 *margill (very good), margaret apple 

 (good), * white hawthornden, * nor- 



I folk beafing (good), strawberry, *purse- 

 niouth (very good). 



Peart. 

 * Jargonelle, crawford or lammos, 

 *carnock or drummond, *grey achan, 

 *swan egg, *moorfowl egg, *yair, *gold- 

 en knap (good), longueville, * summer 

 bergamot, *autumn ditto, *scots ditto, 

 musk robin (good), saffron, *hanging 

 r, cadilac, 



leaf (very good), the pound pear, 

 warden (for baking). 



Cherries. 

 * May-duke, *holman's duke, *black 

 heart, *morella, *kentish, *large geem. 

 Plums. 

 *Orleans, *damask (black, good), dam- 

 son (black, ditto), white perdrigon, *blue 

 ditto, bide gage, *white magnum bonum, 

 red ditto or imperial, white bullace, 

 *black ditto, *drap d'or (yellow, good), 

 *queen claude (ditto, ditto). 



(Kafcnrf. p. 179. 



