GARDEN WALLS. 137 



management of the trees, tlian those requiring lad- 

 ders to perform the necessary business ; and all fruit 

 trees extended horizontally are for the most part 

 much more fertile, and certainly easier defended and 

 under more control than if trained upright, and high 

 up out of reach : so that two walls of six feet in 

 height, with trees planted at good distances from 

 each other, will yield, during any term of years, 

 much more fruit than one wall of twelve feet in 

 height. True it is, we often see pears or vines 

 trained to a great height on buildings ; but the value 

 of the fruit is (supposing the trees are fruitful) much 

 lessened, when the great trouble and danger of dress- 

 ing the trees is taken into account. Besides, high 

 walls are by no means necessary for the crops of 

 either a fruit or kitchen garden. A free ventilation 

 is necessary at all times. The effects of high winds 

 are much less to be dreaded than those of foul, stag- 

 nated air, pent up all round by lofty walls. 



The advantages of walls for the protection and 

 ripening of exotic fruit, need not be insisted on. 

 Their reflection of the sun's light, and retention of 

 his heat throughout the greater portion of the night, 

 are the favouring circumstances which forward as 

 well as defend the tender trees ; and at the same 

 time the branches, being all securely fastened, and 

 trained in any form to the wall, renders them safe 

 from the violence of storm or tempest. Walls of a 

 moderate height, however, are preferable to over- 

 lofty ones, more especially if the upper part of them 

 be naked. Many of our best fruits are naturally 



