70 
THE ORCHARD. 
are mere routine matters, that ought never to 
be neglected. Judging from the circumstance 
that this individual has been flowered by 
plunging the pot :.n a strong (not immoderate) 
bottom heat, there is good reason to believe 
that a similar practice would be found bene- 
ficial: in fact, this is just what theory would 
arrive at; for, since the natural heat of the soil 
should average somewhat above that of the 
atmosphere, it becomes necessary, in order 
to effect this, and thus comply with the na- 
tural conditions, that the pot should be placed 
in some medium, other than the atmosphere, 
for conveying warmth to the roots. This 
warmth should, of course, be applied only 
during the active state of the organs of the 
plant ; when at rest, which should be during 
the winter, no stimulant of this sort ought 
to be applied ; but, as soon as the growth 
commences, a trifling degree of heat may Avith 
advantage be applied, and this ought pro- 
gressively to increase to a brisk (not exces- 
sive) heat, when the plant is in the state of 
the fullest activity : 60° of heat at the root 
is sufficient at the commencement, and this 
may be gradually increased to 80°; but this 
latter ought not to be exceeded. Being a climb- 
ing plant, it of course requires to be trained 
in some way or other ; and no plan is prefer- 
able to that of adopting cylindrical or column 
shaped trellises. These should be constructed 
of wire, and painted of some dull neutral, 
almost invisible colour, in preference to a 
decided green of any shade. The reason why 
permanent trellises should be adopted is at 
once shown in the permanent character of 
the plant : unlike the ephemeral productions 
which grow up, flower, and disappear, all 
within a few months, this plant would perhaps 
take two seasons' growth to cover a fair and 
sufficient sized trellis ; after which, by judi- 
cious pruning and regulation of the branches, 
the same sized trellis would be sufficient for 
several years. As a permanent climber for 
the rafters of a stove, this plant would be 
scarcely excelled ; and it would form an ad- 
mirable companion for such plants as Alla- 
manda cathartica, and several other of its 
allies. 
THE ORCHARD. 
There are some essential points to keep in 
view in forming an orchard, and unless they 
are attended to, there will, sooner or later, be 
a failure somewhere. The choice of the site 
for an orchard should be convenient to the 
store-house for fruits, if possible ; but if there 
were a piece of land calculated to agree with 
the trees better than another, everything 
like convenience ought to give way, because, 
such is the permanent nature of this part of 
an establishment, that we had better incur 
the trouble of having it at the most incon- 
venient part of the estate, than be subject to 
the annoyances which shallow soil, or gravelly 
or sandy subsoil, or swamp, or other evils 
bring upon us. Let it be remembered, then, 
that there should be a good depth of loam; 
the ground should undergo a thorough drain- 
age a good two feet below the surface, all 
over, and the water should be carried off by 
means of ditches or other prepared water- 
courses. Trench the ground all over a good 
two feet, and it is of no consequence if a little 
hungry soil gets thrown to the top. We next 
come to the choice of trees, and here there 
are several considerations to be well weighed. 
It must be obvious that a good tree takes no 
more room than a bad one, and that, while 
there is a choice, the best should be taken. 
Suppose, then, we select for the orchard all 
the usual fruits, we should take not more than 
a dozen or fifteen kinds of apple ; the same of 
pears; six or eight sorts of plums and cherries. 
We should be equally choice of other fruits; 
and, where there are catalogues with hundreds 
of varieties to choose from, it is no easy matter 
to select. Many authors have given us se- 
lections, but they are too extensive, and in 
many of the instances there has been too 
little regard to flavour and too much for show. 
In the Garden Almanack there have been such 
selections made, as good for practical purposes, 
perhaps, as there can be found; many may desire 
to have more extensive collections, they are 
at liberty to do so; but the selections there 
given amount to fifty or sixty varieties of 
different fruits, and that number would occupy 
a pretty good orchard. Let us begin with 
apples : the Golden Pippin, or Franklin's 
Golden Pippin ; Fearn's Pippin ; Kerry Pip- 
pin ; Emperor Alexander ; Blenheim Orange ; 
Ribstone Pippin ; Nonpareil ; Hawthornden ; 
Royal Russett ; Scarlet Nonpareil ; Golden 
Harvey ; Norfolk Beaufin ; June Eating ; 
French Crab ; and Court of Wick. Now 
here is a mixture of kitchen and dessert ap- 
ples, the very best in cultivation, not one of 
which is even of a secondary quality, coming 
in at all seasons, and lasting from one year's 
end to the other. Let us next take pears: 
Louis Bon ; Beurre Rouge ; Brown Beurre ; 
Jargonel ; Green Chizzle ; Bergamot, (sum- 
mer;) Gansels Bergamot; Pas Calmar; Wil- 
liams' Bon Chretien : Maria Louise ; Char- 
montel ; Von Mons. Leon Le Clerc ; Lansac ; 
Golden Beurre; Swan's Egg; Crassanne. To 
these may be added the Old Windsor, follow- 
ing, as it does, close upon the Jargonel 
before any other is ready. It is almost im- 
possible to add advantageously to these, or to 
spare any, if a regular supply be an object. 
Let them be had in young plants, not too tall; 
