12 



pure wilding, and within the memorr of some then 

 (1676) living was named the Scudamore's Crab, and 

 not much known save in the neighbourhood. It is 

 to the perseverance of Lord Scudamore, thus com- 

 memorated, that the orchards in that district are in- 

 debted for some of their best varieties. He was our 

 ambassador to the court of France durinor the reim 

 of Charles L, and he lost no opportunity of collecting 

 scions of the best apples he heard of on the continent, 

 and transmitting them to his west-country estates. 



Since then, Mr. Knight and many others have 

 laboured most assiduously for the improvement of 

 our cider fruits, but with comparatively little benefit. 

 It is in vain that efforts are made to improve the 

 varieties of our apples if the orchardist does not take 

 commensurate pains to cultivate them carefully, ^'e 

 fear that that, too generally, is not the case, but that 

 the following sketch of west-country orcharding is far 

 too near to accuracy. It is from the pen of one of the 

 best practical gardeners of the day, and we hope the 

 satire may induce amendment rather than indignation 

 at the exposure. 



The trees are planted, to a large extent, apparently 

 without considering what sort of soil or situation is 

 best, and without making any previous preparation ; 

 a situation is chosen, a pit is dug with a curious 

 clumsy bit of iron, having a large socket-hole at one 

 end of it, in which is driven a large strong pole, which 



