On Orcharding. 155 
Should you think this worthy of insertion, I shall probably send you a 
design or two, for some forthcoming number. In the mean time, I beg 
your readers will overlook my plain style of writing, which I have no 
doubt but they will, when they learn that 
I am, Gentlemen, 
Yours, &c. 
London, ^tigust\5th, 1831. A Bricklayers' Labourer. 
Article VT, — On the Formation of Orchards. By The 
Author of the DomEvStic Gardener's Manual, 
a Member of the London Horticultural Society. 
Gentlbmex, 
On perusing the first number of your periodical, — to whieh 
I heartily wish the success it certainly promises to merit; — 1 met with 
a paper from No. 19, of the British Farmer's Magazine, ''On Orchard- 
ing, as a means of increasing the produce of small farms, by Mr. Iteid.^' 
This paper attracted my attention, and I perused it lepeutediy. It ap- 
])ears to contain matter highly interesting, as adducing facts, manj' of 
which, my experience convinces me, are well ascertained. My object 
then, in addressing you, is not to controvei't the opinions of this writer, 
but to add weight to his observations, by furnishing such additional 
facts, as may tend to promote a system of cultui-e, which, whether it 
be considered individual))', or nationally, can scarcely fail to prove a 
source of Avealth and prosperity. 
I shall, in the first place, notice the trees named by Mr. Reid, and 
then add a few hints on the mode of planting which promises to lead 
to certain and permanent fertility. The trees mentioned, are 240 in 
number per acre, and they consist of, the Hawthornden 120; Keswick 
Codling, Nonsuch, Fearne's Pippin, French Crab, Ribstone Pippin, and 
Scarlet Nonpareil, of each 20 trees. It should appear that the writer 
intends to recommend the adoption of dwarfs or half-standards, because 
he observes that, " The Hawthornden, the Keswick Codlin, and the 
Nonsuch, should be half-standards, or such as form their heads about 
three feet from the ground, because the weight of fruit is apt to bend 
the branches so low, that it is necessary, if dwarfs, to cut the healthful 
bearing wood away, to keep them from the ground." In respect to 
the quality of the trees mentioned, I have not as yet had much experi- 
ence of that of the Hawthornden, but am aware that, in Berkshire at 
least, it is considered to be the tree-of-trees and as it were, the sine- 
qua-non. But of the Keswick Codling, 1 can attest from my own 
knowledge, that small trees whose stems are scarcely eight inches in 
height, and that of the branches barely six feet, \\'ill produce such a 
