420 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



remarkable for an output of books on fruit trees, and there are many 

 names from which it is difficult to select the most prominent. The 

 dependence upon French authors had now ceased, a native 

 literature was in full swing, and a certain revulsion from French 

 influences may be noted. 



The first author who claims notice is the Rev. John Laurence, 

 who was born at St. Martin's, Stamford Baron, Northamptonshire, 

 where his father was incumbent. After taking his degree at Cambridge 

 he was presented with the living of Yelvertoft, Northampton. Sub- 

 sequently he was appointed vicar of Bishopwearmouth, Durham, 

 and finally he was a prebendary of Salisbury. These changes gave 

 him a wider experience of soils and climates than falls to the lot of 

 many writers, and he made full use of this experience in his books. 

 His first publication was " The Clergy-man's Recreation, Shewing the 

 Pleasure and Profit of the Art of Gardening," an octavo published at 

 London in 1714. This passed rapidly into many editions, and w^as 

 followed by " The Gentleman's Recreation," London, 1716 ; " The 

 Fruit Garden Kalendar," London, 1718 ; and " The Art of Gardening 

 Improved," London, 1718 ; this last being a combination of previous 

 works. A work called " A New System of Agriculture " (folio, London, 

 1727) contains some very useful chapters on fruit culture, and is of 

 interest as presenting his matured opinions. 



Laurence was no mere theorist, and many of his practices were 

 decidedly original. He was a great advocate of the bush system of 

 cultivation, and his recommendations on planting are interesting. 

 In planting a young tree all the roots were to be cut back to 6 inches 

 and all fibres removed. Three main roots were considered siifiicient. 

 In planting no hole was dug ; the root was just pressed into the soil and 

 then covered with a fine mould. This method was said to prevent 

 the production of coarse roots and to be very successful. His remarks 

 on diseases are very interesting, and he says : " Had I but elbow- 

 room, I have a great inclination to turn Quack in Vegetables." His 

 counsels to nurserymen of the day were very sound, and doubtless 

 much needed if we may judge by a letter sent to a disappointed 

 purchaser by a " merry fellow " whose trees had not turned out all 

 that might have been expected. It is impossible to refrain from 

 quoting this ingenious epistle : 



"It is true you gentlemen charge us (and often very justly) with 

 sending you down bad trees and wrong sorts ; but though you may 

 think us Knaves, you must not say we are Fools, for we have three 

 hits for it. Plrst, if the trees I send you down be a wrong sort or on a 

 bad stock, the tree may die before it comes to bear, and then the fault 

 is laid on the planter or other accidents and outward injuries, and so I 

 hear no more of that, but another is sent for in its room, perhaps the 

 same kind. Secondly, the Gentleman who sends for the tree may chance 

 to die before it wins to bear, and then the next heir blames the choice 

 and sends for another. Or, lastly, 1 die myself, and then the Proverb 

 takes place, De mortuis nil nisi homim ! " 



