SECT. XVII. 



OF FR<UIT5. 



Nurserymen, it is often faid, are not to be de- 

 pended upon, for if they have not the fort you want, 

 they will fend you one they have; and this may fome- 

 times be the cafe, as they may think it of little confe- 

 quence if you have one that is good. But the cafe 

 is, there is a great confujion in the names of fruit, by 

 accident, ignorance, careleffnefs, &c. New titles have 

 been arbitarily impofed on old fruits that have happen- 

 ed to vary a little ; and diftin&ions made without a 

 difference, of which circumftance Mr. Evelyn com- 

 plained in his day, faying, " The difcriminating the 

 feveral kinds of fruit, by their charatlerijlical notes, 

 from the leaf, tafte, colour, and other diftinguifhing 

 properties, is much wanting." But as Mr. £. obferves, 

 the ability for this is only attained by long and critical 

 observation. Dr. Hill (in his Eden, folio) profefles to 

 have given great affiftance in this matter. " Under 

 the'feftion of yh///,r, (fays he) we mail give their proper 

 names and defcriptions, by which every one will 

 know by what names to call thofe he fees." I doubt 

 it; and that an intimate acquaintance only can do it. 



Difappointment frequently originates with the pur* 

 chafer, who having met with a fruit to his mind, in- 

 quires the name, and is told a wrong one, and that, 

 perhaps, of a bad fort ; the nurferymen then comply- 

 ing with his order, is blamed. A reduftion of the 

 number of forts, to thofe in which there is an evident 

 difference, with more care on the part of thofe who 

 raife, and thofe who buy trees, in allrefpefts; and par- 

 ticularly that of preferving the true name, feems necef- 

 fary, therefore, in the affair of fruit trees. 



The choice of fruit trees mould be fomewhat govern- 

 ed by foil and fituation; (which has been obferved) for 

 that fruit which fucceeds in one, will not in another. 

 Later fruit may be planted in light foils than in ftrong 

 ones. Some forts grow fineft in a cool, others in a 

 warm foil, and fome fituations are too bleak, either for 

 early or late fruit, though the afpeft, and all other cir- 



X cum- 



