282 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEXINa. 



Fruit-trees. — Many remarks that \re tare 

 made in previous articles apply with, equal force to 

 the subject now under consideration, and vice versa. 

 In this case, however, we may give rather more pro- 

 minence to the kitchen and fruit garden, thus com- 

 bining more of practical utility with enjoyment, or, 

 in other woi'ds, i^leasure and profit combined. The 

 culture of fruits is not an easy matter when in close 

 proximity to manufacturing towns or large cities. 

 There are a few excej)tions, where the site is spe- 

 cially faA-ourable or the soil well suited to their cul- 

 ture ; but taken on the whole, the proceeds are 

 generally at a minimum rate. This should not deter 

 those who are more fortunate in being farther re- 

 moved from these detracting influences, from making 

 fruit-culture to a moderate extent a part of their en- 

 joyment and recreation. A'^egetables, too, could have 

 a greater space allotted to their culture with advan- 

 tage, manure when required for the latter, or the 

 assistance of manual labour, being obtainable at a 

 less cost. 



Take, for instance, standards of Morello Cherries, 

 or other varieties if preferred, but more especially 

 the " Morello," because it does not become of large 

 dimensions before arriving at a fruiting condition. 

 It could also be trained against one of the walls 

 of the house, having a north-west or north-east 

 aspect. Standard Apples, again, selected from those 

 kinds of moderate growth, would have a very pretty 

 effect, either among shrubs of an evergreen char- 

 acter, or planted on a grass-plot. "Why fruit-trees 

 are not thus utilised in combination with flowering 

 shrubs and trees of merely ornamental character, we 

 do not know; they have the double advantage of 

 affording to the possessor the prosjDect of a substan- 

 tial return, whilst in point of floral beauty they are 

 equal to, and even sui'pass, many things that are 

 grown merely for the flowers they produce. Again, 

 they will have a beautiful appearance when laden 

 with their respective crops ; and this in itself is, we 

 think, sufficient to recommend the more extended 

 cultivation of fruit-trees in association with those of 

 ornamental character only. 



Unsuitable Subjects. — One important obser- 

 vation, among many others, should be regarded by 

 every one who has under contemplation the planting 

 of new gardens or the re-arrangement of older ones, 

 and that is, to study well the kinds of trees, shrubs, 

 and fruits which thrive best in or near the same 

 locality. Indications will be apparent to any close 

 observer as to what are the most suitable things to 

 select, and also perhaps what to avoid. 



Thus, for instance, hardly any of the Fir family 

 are found even in a mediiim condition of health in 

 t±ie neighbourhood of the metropolis, and that such 



should thrive when newly planted m the dirt- 

 poisoned, fii-e and gas- dried atmosphere of large 

 cities is more than can be reasonably expected. 

 They linger out a miserable existence for a few 

 years, and then succumb to the ine-vitable. We 

 have had to remove fine specimens of from twenty 

 to thirty years' growth even, from the gradual ex- 

 tension of suburban London, more than from any 

 other assignable cause. 



Among these were a Douglas Fir {Abies I)o7(glasii]y 

 which in the pure country air thrives exceedingly 

 well, as may be seen by the grand specimens at 

 Heckfield, Dropmore, and elsewhere. The Welling- 

 ton gigantea, so well known and deservedly admired 

 when in robust health, has with us been a miserable 

 failure. In its earlier stages of growth, one specimen 

 did fairly well ; but as it was brought more under the 

 deleterious influences just adverted to, it succumbed 

 and became such an unsightly object that it had to 

 be removed. The Spanish Silver Fir [Picea pinsapo), 

 which, for small gardens, would be a most appro- 

 priate species to plant, is yet another instance in 

 which failure has occurred. This is a magnificent 

 tree when well developed, but as it takes many years 

 to anive at large dimensions, it may be safely 

 planted in small gardens in the country. Our largest 

 specimen became at last almost completely denuded 

 of its foliage, and each succeeding growth it -pro- 

 duced was weaker than the last, removal having at 

 last to be resorted to. 



It is not necessary to mention here any more 

 cases, but a list of what to avoid will be given later 

 on. Suffice it to say, there are a few exceptions which 

 we have found in members of the Fir-tree family to 

 do fairly well. One of the hardiest and best of 

 these is the Austrian Pine {Finns Austriaca), which 

 at present resists the drawbacks to the culture of 

 more tender species, and retains the deep green, 

 colour of its foliage very well. The Himalayan 

 Pine {Finns excelsa), with its leaves of a glaucous, 

 bluish-green, is another notable exception, and a fine 

 object when well gro'u'n, being a striking contrast to 

 the afore-named species (/'. Austriaca). The Swiss 

 Stone Pine [Finns cembra), of slow gTOwth, erect yet 

 compact in habit, is another species that thrives 

 well in the vicinity of the metropolis. This species 

 is well adapted for gardens of limited extent. The 

 Eetinosporas, from Japan, and of comparatively recent 

 introduction, appear to do very well, especially the 

 more robust varieties. Further instances will like- 

 wise be treated upon hereafter. 



Any close observers of landscape scenery may, 

 however, note for themselves the absence of all of 

 the commoner species of the Fir tribe, at least in 

 anything like a satisfactory condition of growth, as 

 they near ciir large towns and cities ; and probablj^ 



