24 



THE GARDENER. 



of course are warmer for the vegetation in front. If 

 stone be the material used, it is necessary to have a 

 trellis work attached for the proper training of peaches 

 and nectarines. The trellis ought to be as close to 

 the wall as possible ; for if it project much, the trees 

 will receive less benefit from the heat reflected by 

 the wall through the day, as well as that which is ab- 

 sorbed during the latter period and given out by ra- 

 diation at night. The inconvenience of training over 

 an irregular surface, or where the joints are widely 

 apart, is however best obviated by having the walls 

 of brick. Cross brick walls are very desirable for 

 peaches and other delicate fruits on the south side, 

 while the opposite may serve for inferior fruit trees, 

 and for retarding the growth of vegetables, which is 

 often found necessary. Espaliers are very useful for the 

 growth of apples and pears, as they admit of much 

 economy of space. It is of little use attempting to 

 grow the finer dessert cherries as standards, from the 

 impossibility of protecting the fruit from birds ; but 

 grown as espaliers the trees can be netted over. 



The selections of the sorts to be put down in your 

 newly-formed garden, must depend not only on aspect, 

 and such accommodations as I have stated, but also 

 on the nature of the soil, which is of much influence 

 in determining the appropriate selections. The cele- 

 brated Chaumontel pear, which, under the favourable 

 combinations of a mellow soil and a warm moist cli- 

 mate, is so soft and luscious, and of such an enormous 

 size in Jersey, becomes hard and bitter in any strong 

 land; and at no greater distance than twenty-five or 

 thirty miles on the coast of Normandy, and in appa- 

 rently suitable soil, it loses its high flavour and size so 

 much, that it would not bring half the price of the 

 Jersey Chaumontel in London. 



The gardener, who is but little acquainted with such 

 particulars in theory, may imagine that he has only to 



