THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



179 



if he clioose, be the proprietor of a garden of some ex- - 

 tent, and possess sufficient means to stock it with the 

 finest fruits of the land. 



The present actual state of the population gives abun- 

 dant evidence of this happy and prosperous condition. 

 Let us look at our cities and. villages. In Rochester, 

 excepting a narrow circle in its very centre, every house 

 has its garden, varying in extent from twenty-five by one 

 hundred feet to an acre of ground ; and not one of these 

 but is nearly filled with fruit trees ; and so it is, but on a 

 larger scale, in all the villages of western Nqw York — a 

 8(iction of country in which the first white niiin's settle- 

 ment can scarcely date back over fifty years. Aside 

 from the beneficial results to individual and public health 

 and prosperity from this general union of the fruit garden 

 and the dv/elling, it cannot fail to exercise a softening 

 and refining influence on the tastes, habits, and manners 

 of the people, and greatly strengthen their love of home 

 and country. 



The great thing wanting at this moment, is a knowledge 

 of the correct method of planting and managing fruit 

 gardens. We cannot pass along the streets a rod, where 

 there is a garden, without seeing and feeling that three 

 fourths of th*e profit and pleasure which gardens might 

 afibrd, are sacrificed to bad management, arising, in the 

 main, from ignorance of the proper modes of culture 

 adapted -to such limited grounds ; and it is hoped that the 

 suggestions and plans ofiered in the following detail of 

 fruit gaixlen management, may afford at least a portion 

 of the information wanted. 



The formation of a fruit garden requires a consideration 

 of the soil, situation, enclosures, laying out, selection of 

 trees, selection of varieties, and planting. 



1st. The Situation. — This is generally governed by the 

 particular cireumstanceS of the proprietor, thof^e only 



