136 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, June 7, 1859. 
been tried on those fruit trees that were mentioned in a former 
number. These are on no small scale, being planted in rows 
running from the north to the south side of the orchard, at 
about twenty feet from tree to tree, and the same distance from 
row to row. 'Where the Pyramid and trained Pear trees are 
growing they are planted even closer than this, and each year 
adds more to their numbers, which, at this present time, with 
all the different kinds, exceeds 30,000. 
The first time I went into this orchard was with the owner. 
I never have been to America, it is true; but when we were 
sometimes walking, sometimes crawling, about amongst those 
trees I thought we were there, or in some other unexplored 
part of the globe; and, as if by magic, for it was without the 
least signs of sea-sickness. From one place would start out 
that which would afford high glee for the sportsman and his 
dog—the rabbit, or hare. 'i'heD, after having moved forwards 
a lew yards, there was to he seen, coiled up, basking in the 
sun, that reptile which very few would come upon suddenly, or 
unexpectedly, without a shudder—the viper. I learned from 
the conversation that then passed the treatment this orchard 
had received from the time it was established. 
After the trees had beeu planted for two years they were all 
cut, so as to form round bushes; then for several years follow¬ 
ing every shoot they made was, in the winter months, cut back 
to two and three eyes, which treatment gave some of the kinds 
such a 'check as they never recovered. 
The soils of this one orchard vary very much, there being four 
distinct kinds, i. e., light, sandy soil over stiff clay; good loam 
over the same; very stiff close-working soil over marly clay; 
and shallow soil over gravelly clay. It was on this soil last 
mentioned the trees suffered so severely, and being some of 
the choicest sorts, such as all the kinds of Nonpareil, which seem 
to he quite a host of themselves ; the Golden Harvey, Golden 
Reinette , Margil, Norfolk Beefin, Striped Beefin , and many 
others too numerous to mention here. 
That the greater part of them would never make good stand¬ 
ards could be seen at a glance, but they now form very tidy 
half-standard, and bush-shaped trees; but to bring them to 
this, t was obliged to have recourse to what is often the doctor’s 
motto—“kill ordhre.” Amputation was carried to a tremendous 
extent, and a clean sweep was made of all the lower branches. 
The. next thing was to banish or destroy everything that was 
robbing them of the greater part of their nourishment, and ex¬ 
cluding that free circulation of air from the surface of the 
ground which was so essential to their well doing; then the 
whole surface was dug with spades, and in as rough a manner 
as it was possible to do it, and afterwards planted with different 
kinds of vegetables. 
That these and all other different kinds of soils affect the 
degrees of growth in the wood, and the size and colouring of 
the fruits, also in the length of time the different fruits will 
koep, must be generally admitted; hut this I shall uot enter 
into now, as it will, as I before mentioned, ere long he handled 
in a much more able and scientific manner than it is possible 
for me to do. 
But there are other things that affect Apples and Pears 
beside soils aud situations, which every one that grows those 
fruits might prove for himself. There is a remark that is 
frequently made in common conversation, when speaking of 
children, which is, that is impossible “ to put old heads on 
young shoulders.” Reverse this, in the working of these fruits, 
and there is a view of the very tiling at once. Having watched 
those trees that were regrafted about fourteen years ago very 
narrowly, I am led to believe that there is yet much to be 
learned in this part of the science of fruit growing, which, if 
studied and practised more, the fruits if not improved in 
Havour (and if managed judiciously, I verily believe they would 
he), the same varieties in many instances, through working 
them in this way, would be in use from one to two months 
longer. Here the Marie Louise Pear has been regrafted on 
many different kinds; hut on none does it do so well as on the 
Winter Crassanc, for from these trees the appearance of the 
fruits is improved, without encroaching on the quality of their 
tlavour. 1 had Pears from one of these trees in the middle of 
February, when there was not one of the same variety to he 
found in the neighbourhood, and they would have kept longer. 
They were rather under the general or medium size, but 
beautifully clouded with russet. Here there are not twenty 
trees that have been in above ten years that have not been cut 
off and regrafted. The fruit garden has the whole of its wall 
covered with Pear trees, all of which have been served as above, 
and they are noble specimens. Some of them are of old trees 
regrafted, and all on different kinds. I have headed back old 
trees, and then regrafted them, when in three years they have 
covered nearly as much wall as the old trees did before they 
were cut back. Then, when well trained, the appearance of 
them to the greatest or most fastidious critic could not fail to 
be much more pleasing than the old ones; and to the owner of 
them much more profitable, for I have found here that trees 
grafted in this manner bear much more abundantly, and seem 
to borrow a new existence. 
That tl*e sorts they are regrafted on affect their keeping 
properties is certain; for there are several kinds here which 
had the grafts of their several kinds put on different kinds ; 
trees planted side by side on the same kind of soil; and 
the result is, that on some the fruit is larger, aud on others 
much smaller. The growth of the wood on some kinds is much 
faster; jmd from some of them the fruit is tit for use from six 
to eight weeks before the others show the least signs of ripen¬ 
ing. This is on both Apples and Pears. But as a proof ot the 
spirit that is pervading some of the minds of tho small truit 
growers in this neighbourhood, I can state that I put on last 
year above 4,000 grafts of both kinds for different gentlemen 
in Somersetshire and Wilts, and all of them on trees that had 
been grafted before. Here, in my present situation, I have put 
on above sixty grafts, and this is hut a very small place, right 
in the heart of a town, and several others are following the 
example. The sorts the old trees were before they were cut oft, 
and the sorts that are now put on them, I shall not enter into 
at present. I have not the least doubt, but that specimens ot 
them will be sent to compete with those of the other growers of 
these fruits, so that their qualities might be made known, and 
not remain, as they are now,hidden under a bushel.— J. Ashman. 
(To be continued.) 
FLORAL WREATH. 
We saw a few evenings since a very simple and beautiful way 
of arranging and preserving flowers in a drawing-room. It was 
in a tin box, made in a circular shape, as shown in the cut 
annexed. 
It wa9 brought from Berlin, Prussia, where they are much 
used. The box is about two inches deep, and one inch and a half 
in width, and about fifteen inches in diameter, although it can be 
made of any size. The -tin box is painted green, aud is kept 
nearly .full of water. When the flowers are arranged in it, it 
presents the appearance of a beautiful wreath. A lamp, gas- 
burner, or statuette, can be placed in the centre of it .—(American 
Gardener's Monthly.) 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
ALOES versus GREEN FLY—YOUNG ROOKS. 
“A Glasgow Subscriber to The Cottage Gardener begs to 
inform the Editor, that, as lately recommended, lie has tried a 
strong solution of bitter aloes for green fly, but, us yet, with no 
success. Its application seems perfectly harmless to the insects. 
He has also tried a strong infusion of hellebore powder with like 
results. In both cases the plants were well syringed with the 
liquid. 
“ Can the Editor inform him if young rooks remain with their 
progenitors if not shot, or if they emigrate to other quarters ? 
He does not wish his rookery to increase, and, at the same time, 
is unwilling to destroy the poling ones,” 
