December  2,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
ORCHARD  HOUSE  FRUIT. 
I  FIKD  from  records  of  my  father’s  that  in  1848  Pears  were  all 
destroyed  by  May  2nd,  and  that  in  June  of  the  same  year  the  Cherries 
and  Plums  were  an  entire  failure,  but  the  crop  of-Apples  a  partial  failure. 
In  1849,  on  April  19th,  there  was  snow,  while  on  the  21st  the  thermo¬ 
meter  fell  to  22'  Fahr.,  destroying  the  crops  of  Pears  and  Plums.  In 
1850  the  thermometer  registered  23°  on  May  3rd,  which  seems  to  have 
destroyed  the  Pears  and  Plums  then  in  full  bloom.  In  1851  the  record 
on  September  30th  is  :  —  “No  Pears,  no  Plums,  except  Early  Prolific. 
Apples  aliundant.”  In  1852,  on  April  19th,  the  record  is; — “Frost  very 
severe  ;  thermometer  down  to  20°.  Fruit  suffered  severely,  and  appears 
to  be  all  killed.”  In  1853,  on  April  25th,  there  was  a  steady  fall  of  snow, 
and  I  find  a  remark  that  the  winter  has  been  fatal  to  many  trees, 
A])ricots  and  Peaches  killed,  and,  to  complete  the  destruction,  another 
fall  of  snow  on  May  9th  blocked  the  traffic  on  the  Yorkshire  railways,  and 
the  record  of  the  year  is  that  there  was  nearly  a  total  failure  of  out  of 
doors  fruit  in  the  South  of  England.  In  1854,  after  a  deliciously  warm 
early  April,  the  weather  changed  on  the  25th,  and  the  thermometer  fell 
to  25°  Fahr.,  the  fruit  trees,  which  were  then  in  full  bloom,  suffered 
severely,  and  appeared  to  be  entirely  destroyed.  My  father  adds  that  he 
never  knew,  up  to  the  above  date,  a  spring  so  dry,  so  sunny,  and  so  full 
of  promise.  On  July  15th  he  wrote  ; — “  No  fruit,  and  all  the  fruit  trees, 
young  and  old,  covered  with  aphides.” 
I  have  made  these  extracts  to  show  how,  under  these  adverse 
circumstances,  the  orchard  house  would  command  the  attention  of  fruit 
growers  weary  of  constant  losses  from  the  weather.  The  gardener 
could  not  be  responsible  for  the  weather,  and  when  a  new  method  of 
protection  and  culture  was  pointed  out  it  was  eagerly  appreciated.  There 
were,  of  course,  many  mistakes.  Perhaps  the  system  was  made  too  easy  ; 
but  it  is  a  fact  that  the  most  successful  were  those  who  went  to  work 
with  an  opm  mind  and  employed  men  who  were  not  professed  gai’denei’s, 
and  who  would  obey  the  instructions  given  in  the  book  which  my 
father,  with  a  happy  knack  of  choosing  titles,  called  the  “  Orchard  House.” 
The  houses  which  he  recommended  were  span-roofed,  with  side  and  roof 
ventilators,  the  side  ventilators  being  formed  of  a  plank  18  inches  wide  in 
16  feet  lengths,  opening  on  hinges  downward.  Roof  ventilators,  three  on 
each  side  of  a  100-feet  span-roofed  house.  This  ventilation  is  very 
effectual.  There  are  now  many  labour-saving  methods  which  were  not 
existing  when  orchard  houses  were  first  designed. 
A  house  100  feet  Viy  24  feet  will  provide  an  ample  supply  of  fruit  from 
May  to  October,  the  number  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines  gathered  from 
one  house  amounting  to  3816,  the  same  house  giving  shelter  from  spring 
frosts  to  Pears,  Plums,  and  Apples,  these  being  turned  out  in  the  summer. 
Another  size  for  a  smaller  garden  is  a  span  house  60  feet  by  18  feet, 
10  feet  to  the  ridge  pole  ;  this  is  constructed  like  the  other,  and  will  give 
a  lai’ge  supply  of  fruit.  I  do  not  recommend  lean-to  houses,  the  light 
given  by  the  span  being  much  more  plentiful,  and  the  flow  of  air  uninter¬ 
rupted.  I  may  mention  that  the  floor  of  the  house  should  not  be  paved, 
the  soil  giving  off  atmospheric  moisture  which  is  very  acceptable  to  the 
trees. 
% 
Peaches  axd  Nectaeixes. 
After  building  the  house  the  next  proceeding  is  to  furnish  it,  and  most 
cultivators,  after  securing  the  luxury  of  an  orchard  house,  will  naturally 
desire  to  grow  the  most  luscious  fruits.  As  Peaches  and  Nectarines 
cannot  be  grown  in  the  open  air  with  the  same  facility  as  Apples  and 
Pears,  they  naturally  take  the  first  place  under  glass,  and  to  bring  about 
success,  the  soil  for  potting  must  be  the  first  consideration.  After  many 
years  of  experience  I  find  the  following  preparation  the  most  useful  t 
Take  the  top  spit  of  an  old  pasture  consisting  of  a  calcareous  and  tenacious 
loamy  soil,  dug  and  exposed  to  the  air  for  three  months  ;  it  must  be 
cai’efully  examined,  and  all  larvfc  of  the  cockchafer  destroyed,  also  all 
beetles  ;  surface  soil,  if  of  good  quality,  may  be  used  if  no  pasture  is 
available,  but  the  second  spit  should  be  avoided,  and  also  all  soil  dug 
from  a  pit.  Two-  thirds  of  loam  and  one-third  decayed  manure  should  be 
chopped  up  together,  not  sifted  ;  if  lumpy  so  much  the  better.  The  tree 
must  be  firmly  planted  ;  if  lime  is  not  present  in  the  soil  it  should  be 
added. 
After  pi'oviding  the  soil,  the  next  proceeding  will  be  to  choose  the 
trees.  Peaches  and  Nectarines  will  be  the  principal  kinds,  and  with  these 
the  house  may  be  furnished  from  the  beginning  of  -July  to  the  beginning 
of  October,  the  sorts  for  this  purpose,  arranged  in  order  of  ripening, 
consisting  of — July  1st,  Alexander,  Waterloo,  Amsden  .Tune  {which  I 
believe  to  have  changed  places  with  Alexander),  Early  P>eatrice,  which 
ripens  generally  in  the  orchard  house  from  .Tuly  6th  to  10th,  and,  though 
much  smaller  than  Alexander,  is  hardier  and  will  produce  a  crop  year 
after  year  ;  Early  Louise,  from  the  10th  to  the  14th  ;  Early  Rivers,  which 
is  liable  to  split  at  the  stone,  and  hence  requires  artificial  fertilising. 
Then  come  Hale  s  Early,  Early  Alfred,  Early  Silver,  Rivers'  Early  York, 
Dagmar,  Early  Albert.  Condor,  Merlin,  Crimson  Galande,  Dr.  Hogg, 
Falcon,  Early  Grosse  Mignonne,  Goshawk,  Magdala,  Alexander  Noblesse, 
Grosse  Mignonne,  Violette  Hdtive,  Bellegarde,  Dymond,  Noblesse,  Royal 
George,  Stirling  Castle.  Prince  of  Wales,  Barrington,  Walburton 
Admirable,  Sea  Eagle,  Gladstone,  Princess  of  Wales,  Nectarine,  Osprey, 
Lady  Palmerston,  Late  Admirable,  and  Comet.  The  best  Nectarines  are 
Cardinal,  Early  Rivers,  Advance,  Lord  Napier,  Dryden,  Improved 
Downton,  Goldoni,  Stanwick  Elruge,  Spenser,  Newton,  Milton,  Byron, 
Humboldt,  Rivers’  Orange,  Pineapple,  and  Victoria.  I  seem  to  give  more 
varieties  than  necessary,  but  in  a  large  orchard  house  room  can  be  found 
for  all,  and  as  they  all  vary  slightly  in  growth  and  maturity,  they  will  he 
.525 
found  interesting  and  useful  for  maintaining  the  supply  without  a  glut  of 
any  special  sort,  as  sometimes  happens  with  wall  trees. 
The  orchard  house  is  responsible  for -the  numerous  seedlings  which  we 
have  introduced  into  culture.  These  seedlings  began  with  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  the  Stanwick  Nectarine  into  England  in  1843,  first  put  into 
commerce  in  1846.  This  Nectarine  brought  a  new  strain  into  England. 
My  father  raised  the  Victoria  Nectarine,  followed  by  the  Stanwick 
Elruge,  both  bearing  distinct  marks  of  the  Stanwick  race.  Following 
this  good  exanqJe,  T  fertilised  many  Peaches  and  Neclarines,  and  have,  I 
think,  succeeded  in  establishing  a  race  of  these  fruits  very  distinct  from 
the  old  and  well-known  kinds  which  have  not  changed  for  centuries. 
Apricots. 
The  Api  icot  is  another  orchard  house  fruit  of  great  value,  although  it 
is  said  by  some  to  be  difficult  of  cultivation.  It  ought  not  to  be,  for  it  is 
a  native  of  very  cold  districts.  In  Knight’s  “  Where  Three  Empires 
Meet,”  page  163,  he  says  : — “  At  Bazzo,  13,400  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.  Apricot  trees  in  full  bloom.”  Again,  on  page  253  :  -  “  A  succession 
of  orchards  of  Apricot,  Cherry,  and  Walnut.  Oasis  of  Kapalu.  ’  Mrs. 
Isabella  Bishop  in  her  book,  “  Among  the  Thibetans,'’ page  78,  says:  — 
“The  lower  Nubian  Valley  is  wilder  than  the  upper,  its  Apricot  orchards 
are  more  luxuriant,  access  to  the  villages  is  uHially  uj)  stony  beds  of 
streams,  .  ver-arched  by  Apricots.  The  camping  grounds  are  Apricot 
orchards.  Apricot  foliage  is  rich,  and  the  fruit  small  but  delicious.  The 
largest  tree  I  saw  measured  9  feet  6  inches  in  girth.  Strangers  can  eat 
as  much  fruit  as  they  please  provided  the  stones  are  returned  to  the 
owner.  The  kernels  are  used  for  a  very  clear,  white,  fragrant,  and  highly 
illuminating  oil  ;  this  is  used,  and  very  largely,  in  cookery,  children  are 
rubbed  with  it  daily,  and  are  fed  on  it  mixed  with  barleymeal  made  into 
a  paste.  ’  Tn  “Heart  of  a  Continent,’  Captain  Younghusband  says  :  — 
“Saser  Pass,  17,800  feet — '"hitral.  By  the  beginning  of  April  the  Apricot 
burst  into  IJossom  and  the  valley  was  covered  with  clouds  of  white 
bloom.  Peaches,  Pear,  and  Apple  trees  came  into  leaf.”  This  proves 
that  it  is  anything  but  a  tender  tree,  and.  in  the  orchard  house,  it  should 
have  abundance  of  air  when  flowering.  It  is  not  so  liable  to  canker  when 
grown  in  pots ;  lime  is  absolutely  necessary.  The  varieties  Peach  and 
Moor  Park  are  the  liest  to  grow.  The  Royal  and  Alberge  de  Alontgamet 
Hatif  are  also  very  good. 
r  hereies. 
Cherries  are  pre-eminently  orchard  house  trees,  as,  although  they 
are  orchard  trees,  the  amateur  gardener  has  little  chance  of  eating  the 
fruit  unless  he  tackles  it  half  ripe.  The  fondness  for  Cherries  exhibited 
by  birds,  who  content  themselves  with  taking  a  piece  of  the  ripening  fruit, 
prevents  the  owner  from  enjoying  it.  Sir  Richard  Owen  called  this 
“  salary  to  the  orchestra,”  and  said  it  was  worth  paying  for,  but  I  do  not 
think  people  would  generally  agree  with  him.  Under  glass,  however,  all 
is  changed.  Ventilators  covered  with  wire  netting  prevent  these  depre¬ 
dators  from  doing  more  than  gaze  with  wistful  eyes,  for  it  is  generally 
death  to  enter.  Pherries  under  glass  may  be  enjoyed  from  the  end  of 
May  until  the  end  of  August,  and,  carefully  selected,  the  sorts  will  last  as 
long  as  Grapes.  The  earliest  kinds  of  Cherries  are  :  Bigarreau  de 
Shreken,  Early  Rivers,  Belle  d’Orleans,  Frogmore  Bigarreau,  Bigarreau 
Noir  de  Guhen,  Guigne  Annondy,  and  others,  which  will  prolong  the 
season  until  the  beginning  of  September.  Some  of  my  Cherry  trees, 
although  bearing  annually  large  crops  of  fruit,  have  lived  in  the  same  pots 
for  fifteen  years  or  more,  and  are  yet  perfectly  healthy  and  fruitful.  A 
Cherry  house,  either  in  bloom  or  in  fruit,  is  a  picture  of  the  greatest 
beauty. 
Pears. 
Pears  must  be  included,  but  they  do  not  need  more  than  two  or  three 
months  of  protection.  Placed  in  the  house  in  February  the  trees  can  be 
taken  out  when  the  danger  of  frost  is  passed,  if  this  period  can  be 
determined  satisfactorily.  During  the  winter  months,  after  being  duly 
potted,  they  can  be  stored  very  closely,  being  carefully  protected  from 
any  possible  degree  •;  below  zero.  In  February  the  clumps  may  be  opened, 
and  the  trees  set  out  ready  for  transmission  to  the  orchard  house.  I  have 
never  found  these  trees  suffer  from  frost,  and  although  the  fruit  does  not 
follow  the  promise  of  the  bloom,  Avhich  is  excessive,  there  is  always 
enough  left  for  the  trees  to  mature.  It  is  said  that  Pears  grown  in  an 
orchard  house  lack  flavour,  but  this,  I  suspect,  is  want  of  management. 
Pears  are  greedy,  and  if  the  water  supply  is  not  kept  up  with  something 
more  generous  the  flavour  is  apt  to  suffer.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say 
that  for  pot  culture  the  sorts  should  be  strictly  confined  to  those  which 
are  large  and  handsome. 
For  a  selection  I  would  suggest  Jargonelle.  Beacon,  Clapp’s  Favourite, 
Bon  Chretien  (Williams’s),  Beurrfi  Superfin,  Souvenir  du  Congr^s, 
Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey,  Marie  Louise,  Conseiller  de  la  Cour,  Glou 
Morqeau,  Doyennd  du  Cornice,  Pitmaston  Duchess,  Beurre  Diel,  Beurre 
Bachelier,  Beurr6  d’Anjou,  Princess,  Winter  Nelis,  Josephine  de  iMalines, 
Easter  Beurre,  Passe  Crassane,  Beurr6  Ranee,  Olivier  de  Serres,  and 
Doyenne  d’Alenqon.  All  these  are  good,  large,  and  grow  well.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  north  of  the  Trent  many  of  the  Pears  which  ripen  in 
November  in  the  South  of  England  will  there  keep  good  till  Christmas. 
In  all  cases  of  cultivation  undertaken  for  Pear  growing  I  should  recom¬ 
mend  the  use  of  perforated  pots  and  annual  root-pruning.  An 
avenue  of  fifty  or  100  trees,  10  feet  wide,  in  a  garden,  with  the  pots  care¬ 
fully  concealed,  and  the  trees  full  of  fruit,  is  a  sight  that  must"  be 
satisfactory  both  to  gardener  and  owner,  anil  this  can  be  produced  year 
after  year  with  no  more  fear  of  failure  than  should  attend  the  cropping  of 
Cucumbers. 
