318 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



stems, particularly when young, by placing a triangular fence 

 round each tree, and a few branches of thorn drawn through 

 their upper rails. That curious plant Viscum album, the 

 misletoe, is very injurious to many apple-trees in countries 

 where it abounds. It should be eradicated wherever it ap- 

 pears, for if not attended to, it grows so rapidly as to shade 

 the fruit, and prevent the necessary circulation of air among 

 the branches. 



CHAP. IL 



THE PRIVATE ORCHARD OR FRUIT-GARDEN. 



SITUATION AND SOIL FOR THE PRIVATE ORCHARD OR FRUIT-GARDEN. 



With respect to private orchards or fruit-gardens, it is often 

 necessary, and always proper, to connect them with the culi- 

 nary garden, provided circumstances will admit of it. In 

 choosing the situation, in providing shelter, and improving the 

 soil if it be necessary, more attention is required than in tlie 

 orchard already described. There, only such trees will be 

 introduced, as are known from their hardy constitution to be 

 likely to bring their fruits to perfection without having recourse 

 to artificial means ; but in the fruit-garden the case is difFerent,. 

 here, the finest and more tender fruits will be planted, many 

 of which will require gi'eat skill and attention from the culti- 

 vator to bring them to any degi'ee of perfection, and therefore 

 we should be more particular in choosing a proper situation 

 and soil. The most eligible situation for a fruit-garden, con- 

 sidered as such, may be placed upon any side of the kitchen- 

 garden most suitable to the situation and nature of the ground, 

 and according to convenience ; or it may surround the garden, 

 either simply as an orchard, or as an orchard and shrubbery or 

 arboratum combined. Where economy is an object, and where 



