EXTRACTS—HORTICULTURE. 
417 
material difference in the profits of the two crops. The Author also treats on 
Buck-wheat, on Corn, on the summer following, which he justly deprecates, on 
Laying down Land to Grass, on Lucerne, on the Raising and Application of 
Manure, and lastly, he concludes by summing up the whole after this manner. 
The first rule for a farmer should be not to take two successive crops of corn 
from the same field, if he can possibly avoid it; certainly never three: his se¬ 
cond, to substitute some or other of the ameliorating crops, and sow either peas, 
beans, vetches, buck-wheat, turnips, cabbages, potatoes, or mangel-wurzel, be¬ 
tween every crop of corn : his third , never to sow on foul land : and, though 
last, not least, his fourth, to be vigilant, honest, and industrious, &c. &c. From 
this hasty sketch of the contents of the tract, our readers will perceive that it is 
by no means undeserving of notice. 
EXTRACTS, 
HORTICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 
On Training Standard Fruit Trees. —Respect for the opinions of eminent 
writers on horticulture, who have treated on the mode of training standard fruit 
trees, corroborated by existing general practice, induce me, like many others, to 
adopt the fashionable “ bell ” mode; but, observing that those trees in old orch¬ 
ards, most celebrated for bearing heavy crops, uniformly approximate to the 
pyramidal form, and that the lower branches of such trees were as prolific, 
healthy, and vigorous, having the fruit as well swelled, and«being so highly 
coloured as to staud a comparison with the more elevated parts of the tree, it 
was easy to infer that, by giving fruit trees similar forms, similar results might 
be reasonably expected. I had some fruit trees under my management, upon 
which for nearly twenty years, no small trouble had been expended to divert 
them from a natural and upright course, but, after observing the above results, 
about five years ago, I adopted a more natural mode of training. Some of my 
old trees, I judged to be incorrigible, and these I allow to stand as specimens of 
the wisdom of the ancients. I know of no pear, apple, plum, or cherry tree, not 
even the slender twigged Morelia, that may not be easily made to assume and 
maintain a pyramidal form. I may here remark that too much nicety in train¬ 
ing the centre or leading shoot is ruinous to the system. Let that shoot incline 
to the right or left, or deviate to every point of the compass, only let it always 
be the highest part of the tree, and let the lowest branches be always the longest, 
with their points farthest extended from the main stem. They will thus attract 
their due proportion of nourishment. Let no superior branch extend quite so 
far as the one immediately under it. This is easily effected by pruning off a 
luxuriant leader, and leaving a weak lateral annual shoot to supply .its place. 
Robbery and overshadowing will then soon cease, or be easily corrected. Pre¬ 
serve an easy and regular outline, without approaching to stiffness; keep the 
branches sufficiently open, and they will be covered with fruit-bearing spurs in¬ 
ward to the main stem. No violent pruning will ever be required, the flow of 
sap will be regularly distributed, the tree will become lofty, and stand as firmly 
as its Egyptian prototypes, and the fruit will hang undisturbed by the winds till 
it drop oil'fully ripe.— Mr. Gorrte. — Quart. Jour. Ay.—Annul Gardens. 
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