THE FRUIT CULTIVATOR. 
33 
mistakes are made in planting too thickly ; better it is to have two 
supernmneries between two principals (the former to be cut away as 
the latter advance) than have a fine thriving principal to remove, 
just, perhaps, as it has got to a state of full bearing. The spaces re¬ 
quired by each kind of tree, being added to each description in the 
previous and following parts of this treatise, will be a safe guide for 
the planter in disposing his trees at proper distances. Another thing 
which the author particularly recommends is, shallow planting: 
nothing is more hurtful to fruit trees than deep planting, inducing 
canker and many other disorders. Allowance must be made for the 
sinking of the border; and better it is that additional earth be re¬ 
quired to cover the*roots higher, than that they be sunk too low. 
With respect to the different modes of training, the author has 
only to remark, that he approves of the horizontal fashion for pears, 
cherries, and the stronger growing kinds of plums; the fan method 
for all the more delicate kinds of wall fruit, peaches, &c.; and the 
upright mode for vines and figs. But though these different fruit 
trees are trained in the ways above mentioned, in most well-kept gar¬ 
dens, the rule is not arbitrary ; because a clever pruner and trainer 
can put any tree in almost any shape or order he pleases. 
On Pruning the Nut Tree .—It may be matter of wonder, but so it 
happens, that the generality of gardeners know little or nothing 
about pruning filbert trees. The art has never been studied either 
by masters or men ; and it is remarkable, that this branch of the pru- 
ner’s art should have been brought to perfection by the untaught, 
unlettered Kentish peasant—without books—without master, save 
experience—without mistress, save Nature herself! It is curious 
too, that this art has been engrossed by the labourers in the central 
parts of the county, and without its being followed in other parts of 
the kingdom. The knowledge seems to have descended from father 
to son for generations, and a very useful portion of rustic knowledge 
it is. Here the author begs to observe, how much more valuable is 
the knowledge which has been gained by the mere dint of practical 
experience, compared with that emanating from theoretical writers, 
who bury what they really know of practical matters beneath a load 
of hard names and learned quotations, which only serve to puzzle ra¬ 
ther than inform the reader. So much of this kind of writing is now 
extant, that, though read over and over again, and even committed to 
memory, the reader would not be so wise during his whole life 
(especially as respects the pruning of the filbert) as a visit to Maid¬ 
stone would make him in one hour. 
The principle of the Maidstone prunurs appears to be thus: to 
