xiv INTRODUCTION. 



ducted in any way tlie trainer may desire, and with the greatest 

 ease. This knowledge is quite common amongst amateurs and 

 workmen whose fellows in this country know nothing of such 

 subjects. There are numerous professors who teach it in France ; 

 in this country, where it is really of far greater importance it is 

 not taught at all or only in the most imperfect manner. It is a 

 common thing in 'France to see a professor of fruit-culture and 

 his class assembled round a tree pruning it and discussing every 

 operation as it goes on. We require walls for our fruit-trees more 

 than the French do, and there is no way in which we need im- 

 provement more than in the matter of the proper covering of 

 fruit-walls and development of wall-trees. With standard trees, 

 pruning may be dispensed with to some extent ; but so long as 

 we are obliged to devote walls to the production of our finer fruits, 

 such knowledge as is now possessed by French fruit-growers would 

 prove a great aid. 



In the vegetable department we have also several important 

 things to learn from the French, and not the least among these 

 is the winter and spring culture of Salads. Enormous quantities 

 of these are sent from Paris to our and other markets during the 

 spring months. As I write this (April 19th) the market-gardens 

 near London are faintly traced with light green lines of weak 

 young Lettuce-plants, that have been for weeks barely existing 

 under the influences of our harsh spring. Around Paris at the 

 same season and for months before, in consequence of the adoption 

 of the cloche and a most skilful system of culture, it is a pleasure 

 to see the size and perfect health of the Lettuces — the difference 

 in culture, and not the imaginary difference in climate, solely 

 producing the result. By adopting the French system they may 

 be grown to fully as great perfection near London and in the 

 home counties as near Paris. The fact that we have to be 

 supplied by our neighbours with articles that could be so easily 

 produced in this country is a standing reproach. The French 

 system will have the first difficulty to get over — that of people 

 becoming used to it, and slightly changing their modes of culture 

 to accommodate it ; but it must some day be universally adopted 

 by us, and with the certain result of a great benefit being reaped 

 from it by the horticulturists of the United Kingdom. This 

 culture is, in. all its stages, so distinct from what is done else- 



