Retrospective Criticism. 



479 



borders of sound maiden loam and good gardening ; more particularly in early 

 laying in the young wood. 



I beg to submit whether, in the annexed sketch (Jig. 54.), my trees would not 

 have all or most of the advantages of Mr. Forsyth's huge corridor, without 

 the disadvantages. 



In this sketch a represents the 

 supposed position of the sun for 

 2 or 3 hours each day, for 5 or 6 

 weeks in the height of summer ; 

 b, the conservative curtain; c, 

 back wall; d, coping 2 ft. 6 in.; 

 and e, ground line. Let it be 

 observed, that, although the sup- 

 posed position of the sun is hot 

 quite accurate, it is quite suf- 

 ficient to illustrate the matter. 



At any rate, this plan of mine 

 would be none of your cool 

 arbours to " crack the mirthful 

 joke in ;" a pretty good argument 

 in favour of the plan, I presume. 

 However, perhaps this plan (Jig. 

 54.) is what Mr.Forsyth intended; 

 if so, he was unfortunate in re- 

 ferring to a " railway corridor." 



Mr. Forsyth sympathises with 

 the northern peach-growers, and 

 very justly too. I can, however, 

 assure him, that I have a wall at 

 this time which could not be sur- 

 passed, I conceive, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London. My trees 

 are all absolutely clean, in the finest foliage, as stout-jointed and firm in the wood 

 as in any peach-house. I have had neither curled leaf nor mildew, — no, not a 

 single case all the season ; and, moreover (which is the consummation so much 

 desired), a fine crop of healthy fruit, which I will show against any one on a cold 

 wall ; for I have no flues. My only grand recipe consists of: 1st, some maiden 

 loam ; 2d, planting immediately on bricks or stones ; 3d, early nailing of the 

 summer shoots, and a most liberal thinning of the same ; and, 4th, a total free- 

 dom from all insect or mildew. Another tree I have, viz. a royal George, in a 

 peach-house, from which I have obtained a Knightian medal for seven years 

 successively. I do not intend this for boasting, although I am certainly proud 

 of the matter ; but a reference to facts is a safe course in writing for the public. 

 I hope the above digression may be pardoned, for reasons which will, I trust, 

 appear on the very face of the matter; and I will now return to Mr. Forsyth's 

 statements. 



He says that " a fruit corridor, with pillars of oak or even of iron, and. 

 a roof of tile or slate, may be erected for the cost of a common south wall, or 

 less." This is, indeed, " hard to be understood ;" so are many of his sayings. 

 I had really fancied that he required a south wall, to boot, for his " corridor" 

 plan. However, perhaps I may be mistaken ; and, if so, I hope Mr. Forsyth 

 will set me right. Mr. Forsyth's proof of the corridor being just the thing, by 

 a reference to certain half-hardy shrubs, is, I conceive, not a certain one. It 

 does not of necessity follow that a nook which will preserve the laurustinus, 

 the sweet bay, or a fuchsia, is just the place to plant a peach tree in. 



A great deal has been said of late about "terrestrial heat for fruit-tree 

 borders," more especially that for the vine ; and I see Mr. Niven (p. 242.) 

 quotes Dr. Lindley's Theory of Horticulture as to the average bottom heat, at 

 certain periods of the year, being in advance of the heat of the atmosphere ; 



Fig. 54. Mr. Errington's Coping fur a Porch. 



