HARDY FRUITS FOR SMALL GARDENS. 



143 



Wherever I have advised to cut out all the side shoots of 

 fruit bushes or trees, it is, of course, supposed that judgment will 

 be used where to leave one here and another there to form an 

 altogether new branch to extend and furnish the tree. The 

 object of cutting out the side shoots of the branches is to prevent 

 crowding and to let in plenty of air and light ; it is, therefore, far 

 easier to prune before the leaves fall, when dark and crowded 

 places make themselves more apparent, than when only the bare 

 shoots are left. 



It is a mistake to give young trees heavy dressings of manure, 

 as the ordinary soil of gardens is rich enough. For the first few 

 years aim at laying the foundation of a good tree ; keep the 

 boughs rather thin, i.e. well apart, not crowded, but fully exposed 

 to sun and air so as to ripen the wood, and thus form a sturdy 

 basis for future good crops. Some kinds will bear the second 

 year, and may then be assisted by manure laid on the surface 

 after the fruit is well set, or by waterings of liquid manure, or 

 soapy water, &c, in summer; but fruit-trees, young or old, if they 

 are growing and healthy, should only have manure applied 

 when they are bearing a crop, so as to enable them to bring the 

 year's fruit to perfection, and at the same time form fresh 

 blossom-buds for next year. 



[Up to this point this paper has been written by the Rev. 

 W. Wilks, of Shirley, and revised by Mr. George Bunyard, of 

 The Nurseries, Maidstone. From this point to the end the 

 process has been exactly the reverse. Neither writer is 

 absolutely bound to the opinions of the other, although 

 agreeing in a general way.] 



A critic wishing to exercise his skill may possibly object that 

 the foregoing paper deals only with the making of an entirely 

 new garden. This, of course, is easily replied to by pointing out 

 that in writing such a paper it is never supposed that any one 

 person will be able to carry out all the details and suggestions 

 made. The idea rather is that the owner of a small garden 

 should have something to guide him, and towards which to work, 

 in all and any alterations he may be able to carry out. Never- 

 theless, as the majority of people enter upon the occupation of an 

 already existing garden, it seems well to add a word or two on 



