5 i8 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



and Pears at the rear of shrub- 

 beries. The trees planted in 

 this position at Shirley make 

 an admirable background, and 

 Apples are preferable to Pears, 

 while Plums cannot be recom- 

 mended for these positions, 

 as the birds, proteced by the 

 shrubs, too often reward us 

 by picking out the flower 

 buds, so that these subjects 

 look' weedy and lose their 

 beauty. 



A few Pears, as Beurre 

 Claurgeau, Beurre Capiau- 

 mont, Duchesse d'Angouleme, 

 and others of upright growth 

 may be used for contrast, 

 but choice Pears cannot be 

 expected to succeed under 

 such conditions so far as fruit 

 is concerned. It is also hope- 

 less to expect a crop from 

 Cherry trees planted on a 

 lawn, as the fruit is especi- 

 ally tempting to birds ; but, 

 on the score of beauty, room 

 must be found for a standard 

 tre- or two, preferably those 

 of spreading growth, as they 



A PEAR WALK AT MADKESFIELD COURT. , + . ■ ,. r , + r 



exhibit then testoons of 



flowers in the most graceful manner. Elton Heart, Governor Wood, Bigarreau Napoleon, 

 River's Early, and Black Tartarian are best, the Duke family being too close in growth 

 and too short in the flower stock. Although this is a fruit paper, 1 cannot refrain from 

 recommending the Double Bigarreau Cherry (C. Avium flore-pleno), which is the most 

 beautiful and graceful of all white-flowered trees. 



Bv the kindness o f Mr. W. Crump, of the famous Madresfield Court Gardens, 1 am 

 enabled to give illustrations of the Pear-covered walk's in the kitchen gardens there, but 1 

 would suggest the erection of such arches (where not too exposed) outside and leading to 

 kitchen gardens. With regular attention to root pruning they are most charming when in 

 flower, and then more interesting when in fruit. It is, however, best to confine one's 

 choice to the free-growing kinds possessing good foliage, and Pear trees should be on the 

 Quince stock and planted in pairs opposite each otiier to give a uniform appearance. At 

 Madresfield Court these arched walks meet in the centre of the four-quartered garden, 

 and the views from the centre, up these vistas, are delightful ; they are backed by tall 

 pyramidal trees, which at Madresfield relieve the formality of set arches, and it would be 

 as well to plant a few trees of columnar form when the arched walk is not in the kitchen 

 garden. 



Cordons are used to form arches quickly, but, as shown in the view taken at Preston 

 Hall Gardens by the owner's kindness, the trees were there first planted as espaliers and 

 then trained in that form laterally to the crown of the arch, while to make a variety after 



