220 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [March. 
only at night, in sharp frosts and cutting frosty winds, that the 
blossoms require to be thus sheltered. 
Or, to preserve the blossoms and young fruit, you may occasion- 
ally stick the trees with the cuttings of hardy evergreen trees and 
shrubs, sticking them between the branches in a somewhat spread- 
ing manner, so as the leaves may aftbrd some protection to the 
blossom, and which I have found to be often very serviceable. 
This should also be done just when the trees are coming into 
blossom, having cuttings of the shoots and small branches of laurel, 
yew, pine, and some other hardy evergreens, preserving the leaves 
to them, and being placed between the branches in the manner 
before observed, so as to shelter those which are in blossom; they 
must be permitted to remain constantly till the fruit is fairly set 
as big as large peas. 
Planting Fruit Trees. 
Fruit trees of all kinds may be planted any time this month, 
when the weather is open, with success, but the sooner in the 
month the better, before they begin to shoot; they will now take 
root in a short time, and with the assistance of a litUe water in dry 
weather, will grow freely. 
Let every kind be planted at proper distances, both for espaliers 
and walls, and also in standards, that they may have room to grow 
without interfering with each other in the course of a few years; 
which is often the case in many gardens, more particularly with 
wall trees and espaliers. 
Peaches, nectarines, and apricots should never be planted nearer 
than fifteen feet asunder, against walls or espaliers; nor need they 
be planted more than eighteen or twenty feet distant. 
Apples and pears, for walls and espaliers, should be planted fifteen 
to eighteen or twenty feet asunder; but, in some cases, twenty-five 
feet is a more eligible distance, especially for some sorts of free- 
shooting pears; though it appears considerable at first, yet if graft- 
ed, &c. upon free stocks, they will readily fill that space, and bear 
considerably better than if confined so as to require to be often 
shortened to continue them within bounds; however, generally 
allow those on dwarf stocks not less than fifteen feet, the others 
eighteen or twenty feet distant. 
Plums and cherries designed for walls and espaliers should be 
planted from fifteen to eighteen or twenty feet distance. 
The above distances advised in planting the different sorts of 
wall and espalier trees, appear great when the trees are first plant- 
ed; but in a few years the advantage of allowing them proper room 
will be manifest: and it should be observed to allow trees planted 
against low walls a greater distance than for higher, in order 
that in default of height, there may be proper scope to extend them 
horizontally. 
For the particular soil and situation proper for the different kinds, 
isee the Fruit Garden in October and November; and also the 
Orchard in this month. 
