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XLV. An Account of a Cherry Orchard, at Hylands, near 

 Chelmsford, the Seat of Peter Caesar Labouchere, 

 Esq. F. H. S. In a Letter to the Secretary. By Mr. 

 John Smith, the Gardener. 



« Read March 4, 1828. 



OIR, 



^Agreeably to your request, I have sent you a Sketch of 

 the Cherry Garden at this place. Gardens of the same kind 

 I understand, are not uncommon on the Continent, but this 

 is the only one I have ever seen or heard of in Great Britain. 

 The intention of these Gardens is to preserve the fruit on 

 standard trees perfect till a late period, and secure from the 

 attacks of birds. They also form an agreeable resort for the 

 family. Not only Cherries are grown in them, but other 

 fruits, such as Gooseberries, Red, White, and Black Currants, 

 Raspberries, and Strawberries. 



Every person connected with Horticulture is aware of the 

 unprofitableness of Standard Cherries, in consequence of their 

 being so liable to the attacks of birds ; or if they are protected 

 by nets, of the labour of undoing and again securing them 

 every time a gathering is wanted. Here that difficulty is en- 

 tirely done away with, for after the net is once on, there is 

 no further trouble till the crop is used. 



The space of ground taken up in this garden is about 

 one rood and twelve perches ( see Plan at the end) ; it is 

 surrounded by a wire fence A, nearly nine feet high ; this 

 fence consists of iron bars, two inches by a quarter of an 

 inch, fixed into oak posts, B, about four feet apart ; the 

 space between these is filled up with wire-work, so close as 

 to exclude the smallest birds ; at the bottom is a plank of oak ; 

 one foot wide, and two inches thick, stretching from post to 



