154 JOURNAL OF THE ROl'AL IIORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
The second square lias the fifteen-foot arrangement, which I regard 
as the best of all for the growth of top and bottom fruit in a plantation. 
The half- standard Apple trees are fifteen feet apart each way, with two 
bushes between each two trees in the tree rows, and two rows of bushes 
between each two tree rows, so that there are five-foot spaces between 
the bushes everywhere, and the bushes are five feet from the trees. This 
is the most economical arrangement of bush and tree possible. The 
bushes come into bearing quickly, and soon afford a return upon outlay. 
The tree branches eventually cover very nearly a square rod of land : 
having only four-foot stems they are easily managed, and are very little 
affected by wind — in point of fact, when the hedge gets up no wind can 
harm them. 
The third square has Plums and Damsons — half-standards — fifteen feet 
apart, with Strawberry beds between them and two rows of Ehubarb on 
one side. 
The fourth square has a row of pyramidal Pears, another of Plums, 
with Raspberries, Blackberries, Wineberry, and Logan Berry. The Rasp- 
berry canes are like field Raspberries kept to a yard in height, and have 
no supports. There is a row of double-cordon Apples — trained diamond- 
fashion — on each side of the path from the entrance gate, with cordon 
Gooseberries alongside other paths. 
The Myrobalan Plum hedge will be about twelve feet high — perhaps 
a foot or two more. It should reach this height in about four more 
years, as in this, the second year from the planting, much of it is over 
seven feet in height : it will be cut back after ihe leaf falls this autumn to 
about four feet six inches. I regard this as the best hedge plant we have. 
When planted a foot apart in November, 1897, they were cut down to 
nine inches : they put forth growth of marvellous vigoiu' last year. This 
year many of the shoots are from five to six feet in length and wonder- 
fully robust. By the time the trees require it this hedge will afford them 
shelter, and become a perfect wind screen. 
I have thus briefly endeavoured to show something of these adjuncts 
to a branch of technical education the aim of which is fine fruit and 
plenty of it everywhere. Though intended primarily for the labourer, 
it appeals to the wants and sympathy of all classes, evidence of which is 
afforded in the mixed audiences at the demonstrations, in the eager 
critical attention to the teaching, in the keen inquiries, and, above all, the 
earnest endeavour to turn it to practical account. Mistakes and failures 
there are undoubtedly — this was inevitable and unavoidable in such a 
movement. But the degree of success that has been achieved by many 
an earnest worker shows that in due course the work will have its reward 
in the planting and rightful management of hardy fruit generally ; that 
good trees, good varieties, and fine fruit will be the rule, bad trees and 
inferior fruit the exception. 
