Chap. XXIV.] PEUIT OULTUEB. 425 



Pears as well as other hardy fruits — were abandoned, and only- 

 first-rate and hardy kinds planted or grafted. 



As to Apples, it is well to bear in mind that a good hardy kind 

 on a well-managed standard or naturally-developed tree is the 

 best for the supply of the markets with all but the very best 

 fruits, and for all ordinary purposes ; and that the system of 

 orcharding in the London market-gardens is on the whole a good 

 and safe one. Grenerally speaking our Apple-culture is not to be 

 complained of, though it may certainly be improved. There is 

 in this country a large demand for fruit of the finest quality that 

 can be obtained, both in the case of those who buy all they use 

 and those who grow their own. In these islands it is also gene- 

 rally admitted that to keep the sun from the general contents of 

 our gardens by shading them with Apple-trees is anything but 

 desirable, and therefore the cordon trained as an edging is recom- 

 mended. It has been proved that where well managed these will, 

 if placed alongside the walks in the kitchen and fruit gardens, 

 furnish abundance of fruit of the finest quality. In many places 

 the positions in which the cordon-plantation may be made are 

 unoccupied. The system will have to encounter prejudice and bad 

 management — but as soon as well-managed specimens are seen 

 in our gardens it will spread rapidly, and prove a boon wherever 

 perfect fruit is desired. In Northern England and in Scotland, 

 where every ray of sun is required, many gardens are shaded and 

 half destroyed by old standard Apple-trees. 



The Peach attains the finest possible condition when well 

 grown against walls in England. In other countries it may be 

 grown freely as a standard tree ; in none can they produce finer 

 or better fruit than may be gathered from walls in England and 

 Ireland. France has very diverse climates — some in which the 

 Peach grows well as a standard — but the best Peaches grown in 

 France are gathered from walls in those parts where the climate 

 is most like our own. Good specimens of Crawford's Early Peach 

 have been gathered from pyramid trees standing in the open 

 quarters of the Eev. Mr. Benyon's garden in Suffolk ; therefore 

 it is certain that in the midland and southern parts of the British 

 Isles the Peach may be grown against walls to the highest degree 

 of perfection ; and in favourable parts of the south, early Peaches 

 may be grown with success as a standard or bush tree, away from 



