32 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



to vegetation. In many gardens the walks are 

 edged with tiles, bricks, stone, or wood, and 

 when properly laid these are generally prefer- 

 able to plants for the purpose. They are, how- 

 ever, more expensive. 



From what has been stated, it is clear that 

 the walks in a fruit and kitchen garden should 

 run in straight lines; that they should be of 

 equal breadth throughout; that they should be 

 made so as to bear the greatest weight that 

 may be brought upon them in ordinary circum- 

 stances; that their surface, from end to end, 

 should be perfectly level or uniformly sloping; 

 that the elevation of the middle above the sides 

 should be sufficiently great to ensure dryness, 

 but not greater than will allow of comfort in 

 walking; and, lastly, that the margin between 

 the walks and the soil should be clearly defined 

 by means of a distinct edging. 



[m. D.] 



CHAPTER II. 



ORCHARDS. 



The Formation op New Orchards— Soil— Soil Pre- 

 paration and Improvement — Manures — General 

 Management op Orchards — Improving Old 

 Orchards. 



Orchard planting has received great atten- 

 tion in the British Isles at different periods of 

 our history, and for different objects. The 

 establishment of orchards on an extensive scale 

 dates from the seventeenth century, when the 

 production of cider as a substitute for foreign 

 wines was the principal aim of the planters. 

 Many of the ancient orchards in the west of 

 England had their origin about that time, and 

 as the cider industry advanced in importance 

 the area devoted to fruit-trees was largely ex- 

 tended. During the following century beer 

 gradually took the place of cider as a general 

 beverage amongst the working-classes, while 

 the consumption of imported wines increased 

 greatly amongst other classes, to the loss of the 

 cider-makers and fruit-growers. Then a long 

 period of neglect succeeded; the varieties of 

 Apples that had been chiefly planted were not 

 adapted for any other purpose, and in conse- 

 quence a large extent of orcharding became 

 practically valueless. In the course of the nine- 

 teenth century, however, the demand for Apples 

 and other fruits increased as the population 

 advanced, with the result that orchards of a 

 different character were planted, for the pro- 

 duction of Apples that could be utilized either 



for sale or home consumption in a fresh or 

 cooked state. With this object the attention 

 paid to orchards is increasing every year, and 

 the subject has now assumed an importance it 

 has never previously possessed. 



It will be convenient, in dealing with this 

 matter, to divide it into three sections. 1st, 

 the formation of new orchards; 2nd, the 

 management of established orchards; and 3rd, 

 the improvement of neglected orchards. Under 

 each division of the subject some consideration 

 will be devoted to the three general types, 

 namely, the commercial orchard, or fruit 

 plantation, the sole object of which is profit; 

 the farm orchard, for home supply and the sale 

 of surplus crops; and the garden or home or- 

 chard, which is usually on a smaller scale, and 

 is intended mainly to furnish supplementary 

 supplies to those afforded by garden trees, or 

 it constitutes a portion of the garden itself. 



The formation of New Orchards. — The estab- 

 lishment of a new orchard is not a matter 

 that can be lightly undertaken if success is to 

 be ensured. So many conditions exercise a 

 bearing upon the results that the most careful 

 consideration is requisite to provide for probable 

 contingencies. Even on a small scale the ex- 

 pense of forming permanent plantations is 

 heavy, and a long period often elapses before 

 it is perceived whether the outlay has been 

 judiciously directed or otherwise. In the 

 event of failure occurring from the operation 

 of causes that might have been foreseen, not 

 only is the loss serious, but the disappointment 

 is such as to prevent any further attempt. 

 Much harm has in this way been done to fruit 

 culture generally, and to orchard planting in 

 particular, by ill-advised schemes, or by defec- 

 tive attention to essentials at starting. These 

 essentials we now purpose to briefly review. 



In selecting a site for a permanent plantation 

 of fruit-trees the points that demand attention 

 are the elevation, aspect, and shelter of the land. 

 Each of the characteristics named exercises a 

 marked effect upon subsequent progress and 

 returns. With elevation is included not merely 

 the actual height above sea-level, but also the 

 relative altitude as compared with neighbouring 

 land, for that is often of even more importance. 

 It is well established that on low-lying land, and 

 in enclosed valleys, frosts are frequently severe 

 and destructive in the flowering season of fruit- 

 trees, and the difference in this respect is often 

 strongly marked when there is higher land in 

 the immediate neighbourhood occupied with 

 similar crops. Unfortunately it is a matter that 



