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CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE ORCHARD, 



Its Size^ Situation^ and Soil... .Choice of Trees, Preparing the 

 Ground, Planting, ^c....An Annual Wash for Trees. 



Orchards are appropriated to the growth of standard 

 fruit-trees only, where a large supply of fruit is wanted ; and 

 generally consist of apple-trees, pear-trees, plum-trees, and 

 cherry-trees; but a complete orchard should have, besides, 

 quinces, medlars, mulberries, service-trees, filberts, Spanish 

 nuts, and barberries ; as also walnuts and chesnuts ; the two 

 latter of which are well adapted for sheltering the others from 

 high winds, and should therefore be planted in the boundaries 

 of the orchard, a little closer than ordinary, for that purpose. 

 In choosing your trees, too much care cannot be taken to admit 

 of none but such as have good roots, fair clean stems, and 

 proper heads. In selecting your pears and apples, especially 

 the latter, be careful to procure a proper assortment for the 

 supply of your table during the whole year : A very few of 

 the summer sorts will suffice ; more of the autwnn, and still 

 more of the winter will be required ; as upon this last you 

 must chiefly depend for supply from the month of January 

 to Jul)^ [See the Method of Presei'ving Fruit, chapter 25. j 



In cyder-making counties, such as Hereford, Worces- 

 ter, Gloucester, Somerset, and Devon, they have large orch- 

 ards of apples ; and in some counties, (Kent in particular) 

 there are orchards wholly of cherries. In general orchards, 

 however, there ought to be a much larger proportion of apples 

 than of any other fruit. Orchards, in proper situations, are 

 very profitable ; beside, the trees have a delightful appearance 

 when in blossom, and also when the fruit is ripe. 



What has been said respecting the situation and soil of a 

 garden is also applicable to an orchard. The situation of an 

 orchard should be rather elevated than low ; on a gentle decli- 

 vity ; and open to the South and South East, to give free ad- 

 mission to the air and rays of the sun (to dry up the damps 



