BOYAL HOKTICULTUJIAL SOCTKTV. 



14. Another of the most important functions of the Chiswick 

 Garden has been liberally worked in the distribution of grafts 

 of fruit-trees, of which no less than 1500 parcels have been re- 

 ceived by the Fellows of the Society during the past season. 



15. The advantages arising from the demolition of the old and 

 diseased fruit-trees which occupied some of the belts in the 

 kitchen garden having been attended with beneficial results to 

 the garden, the Board would suggest to the Council that the 

 greater portion of the old orchard of unproductive standard trees 

 should be trenched over, and the ground appropriated to the re- 

 ception of the young trees raised from scions of those which 

 had been destroyed, along with others forming a numerous col- 

 lection which have been obtained at various times from pomo- 

 logists of the continent of Europe and the United States of 

 America. These old orchard-trees, as they at present exist, are 

 perfectly worthless, and occupy a large extent of ground, which 

 is thereby rendered unproductive. If this were done, not only 

 would there be room for the young plantation of pyramidal and 

 bush fruit-trees, but space available also for the production of 

 vegetables and the more common fruits, for which there is an in- 

 creasing demand by the Fellows ; while there is less inquiry for 

 grapes and the higher class of fruits. 



16. The peach wall, which at one time was the pride of the 

 garden, has for some years been gradually losing its interest ; the 

 trees, many of which are coeval with the wall itself, having fallen 

 into the decrepitude of age, occupy space which might be more ser- 

 viceably employed. The Board would suggest that these old trees 

 be removed, and their places filled with young trees of choice 

 varieties, which will serve not only as a source of income by the 

 sale of the fruit but as examples of the different methods of 

 training and the most approved modes of pruning wall fruit-trees. 

 The trees in their present condition afford no instruction in 

 this latter respect ; and it is most important in an establishment 

 like the Grarden of the Society, which is chiefly maintained for 

 experimental and educational purposes, that the training and 

 priming of fruit-trees should form an important feature. 



