H-i 1 MS, 
\r3 
% 
84 
THE FORMS OF ANCIENT VEGETATION. 
and unfruitful, cut it out and train up young wood. Let me observe that this is not a new plan. 
From a wall so arranged my father and I, twenty years ago, gathered Morcllo Cherries and Red and 
White Currants, on the 25th December. I mention this to show what may be done under favourable 
circumstances ; but of course it is longer than such fruits need be kept, because it is done at the 
sacrifice of flavour. 
But to return to the subject of aspects : Who that knows the wants of a large establishment can 
have too much south wall or south borders for early crops ? or north wall and north borders for summer 
crops ? And let me add, that the other two aspects are of little comparative advantage with regard to 
the summer 
consumption, 
because they 
fill up no gap 
in the season 
which will not 
be filled to 
greater advan- 
tage by those 
which I re- 
commend to 
predominate. 
Their proper 
tenants, there- 
fore, will be Pears, which being principally autumn- and whiter fruits, do not affect the general 
consumption, and these aspects suit them well. 
These considerations would seem to point to the great advantage to be derived from laying out our 
kitchen-gardens in parallelograms rather than square shapes, so that, if a given space is to be enclosed, 
it will be better to have it in two or three long compartments running from east to west, so as to give 
nearly all north and south walls. I think I could show how the spaces between these walls would be 
easier worked, and to much greater profit, than large open squares ; but that ought to have a plan to 
elucidate it, and deserves more consideration than I can now bestow upon it. 
I have said that the flavour of fruit from a north aspect is equal to that from the south ; and, as 
many will be disposed to doubt this, I will just state why I think so ; not, however, that I can here 
enter into the merits and demerits of all that bears upon the subject, for it is one that will bear an 
extensive examination, and involves more than would at first glance strike a casual observer or thinker. 
The influence of direct sunlight is held to be of paramount importance to the perfect maturation of both 
fruit and wood ; and in the case of the tenderer kinds, as Peaches and Vines, it is undoubtedly so. 
But it is not so to the hardier sorts ; nor would it be to the others, if we had higher and more equal 
temperature in spring and autumn. To me, the perfect maturation of wood appears to depend more 
on a fine warm autumn than ever so hot a summer ; and on a long-continued equal temperature, rather 
than a great amount of direct sun-heat. 
The temperature of a north aspect is, on the year's average, far more equal than any other, and 
less liable to the extremes of heat and cold ; this then is one reason why fruit-trees may be supposed 
to crop and flourish well in the absence of the direct rays of the sun — and as for the flavour, provided 
the trees are not over-cropped, it is quite as good without the sun as with, nay, it is sometimes prefer- 
able ; for I have often seen Apricots and Green Gage Plums on south aspects quite ripe on the side 
exposed to the sun, and green and hard on the opposite side, whereas, at the same time, I have found 
many fruits covered with leaves, and on which the sun's rays have never shone direct, perfectly and 
equally ripe — with a rather paler colour, it is true, but flavour quite equal to the tit-bits of the sunny 
ones. Does not even this show that direct sunlight is not absolutely necessary to ripening and flavour ? 
In the case of Cherries, from the May Duke to the most exquisite-flavoured Biggareau, the flavour is 
perfectly on an equality with any other aspect, if they are allowed to hang long enough on the trees. 
♦ 
THE FORMS OF ANCIENT VEGETATION.* 
fF, after having studied fossil plants in regard to their organization, we compare the different forms 
which have inhabited the surface of the earth at different epochs of its formation, we shall perceive 
that great differences present themselves in the nature of the vegetables which have been successively 
* Bronjrniart in Annates des Sciences KatureUes: Botaniqm. An abstract of a translation by Mr. Henfrev in tbe Annals 
and Magazine of Natural History. 
l 
I 
I 
^Sl 
