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CHAPTER XIV. 



FRUIT CULTURE : HOW ARE WE TO IMPROVE ? 



The discussion on French and English fruit growing which 

 emanated from my letters to the Times in August, 1867, 

 and afterwards spread through all the gardening papers, 

 was too desultory to leave any impression on the public 

 mind as to the hest course to pursue. For this reason 

 therefore, and to prevent misrepresentation, I entered on 

 the question of the general improvement of our hardy fruit 

 culture in the Times in May, 1868 ; and in this chapter I 

 propose to enter more fully into this very important ques- 

 tion. Some have so little understood me as to suppose that I 

 had recommended the cordon for orchard culture, which 

 would be a stupendous blunder only worthy of some nur- 

 seryman very anxious to sell his trees. Therefore, although 

 the present subject may seem wide of the aim of the book, 

 it is necessary to enable the reader to estimate the value — 

 be it small or great — of what we may learn from continental 

 fruit growers, and how we may improve our supplies. The 

 fruit question is not one that merely concerns those who 

 can afford to keep gardeners, or even the much larger class 

 who can devote some time and money to the pleasant and 

 healthful amusement that amateur gardening affords ; it is 

 a question for the public in its widest sense, and of especial 

 importance when considered in relation to the enormous 

 and badly supplied masses in our ever-growing great cities 

 and towns. 



I shall first deal with the Pear, for several reasons : — 

 1st. Considering its hardiness, keeping qualities, and rich 

 variety, it is the most delicious and valuable fruit that can 

 be grown in northern latitudes. A perfect Peach may be pre- 

 ferred to a first-rate Pear, but by properly selecting varieties 



