The royal kitchcn-garden at Munich contiiins extensive hothcnises nnd pits for forcing ; and on tho
vails arc vines for tlic purpose of laying down the shoots to root into pots, and afterwards to ripen
*ruit under glass fruinos, as iu Holland and Denmark. Asparagus is here grown in the open air
ililc rows, with n space between, wliich is dug out and llllcd with hot dung, while the plants are
covered with a wooden frame. All the varieties of the cabbage tribe arc hero taken up on tho first
approach of winter, and planted close together, in sheds with glass fronts, th e air within being kept at
a moderate temperature by stoves. One of tho vegetables forced during tlic winter is k o lil-rab i: it is
sown in October, transplanted in November, and begun to be gathered a t Christmas, continuing from
th a t time till March, when the bulbosities are about tho size of turnip radishes. Kldnoybeans and
mushrooms are produced liere during the whole winter, and also alpine strawberries. T h e latter aro
grown in pots in a house, th e glass of which in front is nearly perpendicular : the pots are placed on
shelves close to tho glass, those having the fruit ripe being always on the upper shelves, where th e air
is necessarily w a rm est; and those last brought in boingjilaccd on tho lower shelves, where the air is
colder. As th e fruit on the upjicr shelves is ripened olr, and tho pots removed, those ou the lower
shelves are brought up to supply their places, and pots from th e frames in th e open garden are substituted
in th eir stead. This succession is carried on from October to .Tune, when strawberries ripen
in pits in tho garden, and, in th e first week in July, in the open ground. It thus appears that the h o rticultural
luxuries of the kings of Bavaria are greater than those of the kings of either France or
ni NlwiiijiZ/enftj/rg contains a number of hothouses, in which pines are kept in tho
in which they are fruited during the summer so-asmi. In one pit they are grown
le n atura l manner, and there they remain for four or five years, nroduciiig numerous
ns, and a perpetual succession of fruit, which, thougli small, is high-Ilavourcd.
. p. 42L) In October, 1828, wc found ripe alpine strawberries in pits, and were
uit was jiroduccd, either in the open air or under glass, every day in the year,
roducod throughout the year, and abundance of salading of every description,
The kitchcn-gardcn
winter time, and pits,
in a bed of cartli in tl:
suckers from the stcii
(Sec Gard. Mag., vol
informed th at t!i
Mushrooms are also p
•y, grown from the <: roots in cellar’s, and mustard i
s from the seeds in stov
Oabbage's, ___ ...............,. celery,j, h’cks, parsley,........................................ and a number . of .. similar . vegetables.^, are planted in i
autumn in pits or
beds, surrounded by frames or walls, and covered every night by wooden shutters, over whieh are placed
straw mats. In tlie most severe weather these coverings are only taken off when some of th e vegetables
are wanted for use. In cellars and largo rooms shelves containing layers of earth are formed one above
an o th e r; and in these, cauliflowers, broccoli, lettuce, and other vegetables are kept through great part
of th e winter. Endive is taken up, dried in a hothouse, th e leaves tied close to f tth e r with rye-straw,
and the plants afterwards buried in the soil with the roots upwards, and protruding a few inches above
’ ’ ivercd with tliatch, to keep out the rain and the frost. In the surface, and th e whole c this state it will
keen till spring. Cabbages arc also kept in tho same manner, both in Germany and in the highlands
of Scotland. In short, the exertions made by the Gorman gardeners, in so severe a climate as th a t of
Bavaria, arc such as th e British gardener can form little idea of; and, with the clear, dry air of the
country, th eir great success is alike incredible.
Fine-nnplcs are cullimtcd at Nyiiiphenhurg, in imitation of th e practice in the West Indies. Two
years’ old plants are turnetl out of th e pots in a bed of earth with a stratum of rotten dung below, in a
flued p i t ; and there they remain between three and four years, giving a perpetual succession of fruit.
The first crop is produced the second year, from the centre of what may be called tho mother plants ;
tho second crop the third year, from the suckers of th e third year still on the p la n ts ; and th e third crop
from suckers produced hy tlie suckers of th e first year, ancl by other suckers direct from the mother
plants. T h e pit of plants was, in November, 1828, covered with several hundreds of fruit, in every
stage, from its first appearance to ripeness. T h e pines were small, b u t one stool had from three to six
or more; so that the total weight produced on a given surface of ground, in a given time, is perhaps
more than by the ordinary mode of culture. {Gard. Mag., vol. iv. p. 4')7.)
At Ulm, asparagus attains a larger size than any where else in Bavaria, owing to some peculiarity in
tho soil, as, a t two miles’ distance, it is found impossible to bring it to the same degree of porfcetion.
Different gardeners with whom wo conversed on tho subject, attribute its excellence to tho deep dry
sand, which is trenched between four and five feet, and made np with strata of manure. Two f t a r s ’
seedling plants arc transplanted in rows, one foot in width between, aud the nlants two feet apart in tho
row; the plants in one row alternating with those in the other. By this mc'thod there i s a space of two
feet between plant and p lan t; tliougli, on a given number of square feet, there is a greater immbcr of
plants than one to each foot. The object of the space is to admit of stirring tho soil in sp rin g ; and, In
order that this may be done without injuring tho crowns of th e roots, a strong stake, standing a foot
above tho soil, is fixed at each plant. Very little covering is put on the plants in the winter season.
T h e stalks produced are said to be near an inch in diameter, and tlio beds last from twelvi* to iiftccn
years. {Gard. Mag., vol. iv. p.
390. In Saxony, horticulture was practised fit an early period. The Earl of F indlatcr
resided there many years, aud formed a plantation of vines at his country scat in the
neighbourhood of Dresden, said to bo the most northerly vineyard in Germany. Ho
introduced lined walls, and trained the best sorts of English pcachc.s and apricots ou
them. The whole of hi.s horticultural efforts aud his chátcau were destroyed hy the
Frcneli army iu 1813. A public walk aud scat at Carlsbad remain to commemorate
his taste and public spirit. li e died at Dresden, Oct. 6. 1811.
391. Erfurth has been celebrated for its horticulture from the earliest ages. I t was
selected by Charlemagne as a staple town for one of the great roads of Germany, and,
in. succeeding centuries, ranked among the first trading cities of the interior. The
excellence of the soil and the favourableness of the situation seem to have induced tho
inlnihitants to betake themselves to liorticulturc; and tlicy soon supplied so extensive a
jiortion of Germany, as to acquire the title of Gardeners of the Holy Roman Empire.
At tlic commencement of the sixteenth ccntuiy, the district of Drcienbrimncii, which is
well watered, began to assume a superiority in culture. I'lic water was conducted in
channels over tho surface, as practised in Italy, and was found not only to produce
larger but earlier crops. About the midille of the seventeenth century the artificial
cultivation of the water-crcss commenced in this district, wlicre it may be sn.id to have
liecn first invented by Nicolas Moissnor. It was grown in broad ditches of running
water, and used extensively both a.s a salad and for culinary pnrposc.s, especially during
winter. Tho great demand for this vegetable at Drcicnbriiimen rendered certain
marshy parts of the district, till then of little or no value, more productive than the best
sound land.
GERMAN GARDENS. 169
The. horticulture o f Kr.furth was greatly improved by Ilcichart, an extensive cultivator of culinary
vegetables and garden seeds, and the author of Kciehart’s La n d und Gartens Schatzes, 8vo, Erfurth,
1753. This work treats of all the vegetables cultivated in tho neighbourhood oi Erfurth, and on the
manner of cultivation. Scarcely any improvement has been made since his time, except in the culture
of asparagus. This had formerly thick beds of dung buried under it at some d ep th ; but now, as we arc
informed by Professor Völker, in the Pi-ussian Gardening Transactions, vol. iv., the manure is chiefly
placed on and near th e surface, to be washed in by the rams. T h e culture of the potato was, and still
18, very imperfect.
The culture o f garden seeds, both horticultural and floricultural, forms a t present by far the most
important part of tho commercial gardening of Erfurth. Every kind in general use is raised, and tlic
sale extends to every part of Germany, to 1-ranee, and to foreign countries. The details o fth e mode of
raising these seeds will be found in Volker’s edition of lleichart’s b ook; and though it ofl'ers little that
is new to th e British gardener, acquainted with the practices of the sccd-growers of Kent and Essex,
it possesses considerable historical interest.
The culture of f r u it trees and vines dates as early as that of culinary vegetables and seed.s; and a.s the
history of this part of E rfurth horticulture is somewhat curious, wc shall give it chiefly in Viilker’s own
words, copied or abridged from the volume of the Prussian Transactions before mentioned.
The cultivation of f r u it trees around Erfurth “ was not so sedulously prosecuted as the other branches
of gardening, in the more early period of our history, and it appears, indeed, to have been neglected,
when compared with the attention paid to vines. This may be accounted for from the unsettled state of
the times ; for, the people of E rfurth being almost constantly in a state of hostility with the neighbouring
principalities and sovereignties, the nearest vineyards and gardens of their enemies were frequently
ravaged and laid waste. But under such circumstances vineyards are more easily restored to a productive
state than orcliards ; and it was natural that the cultivators should make the vine the chief object of
their care. F ru it cultivation on a large scale, is, thorclbro, of more recent date, and much of its success
must be attributed to th e encouragement and protection afforded by the electoral government of Mcntz.
In 1705 a proclamation was published, recommending to every subject the planting of fruit and other
useful trees ; and the rigid observance of a previous ordinance, by which every landed proprietor was
required to plant a t least twelve trees on his grounds. However, this ordinance had not all the good
effect which was expected from it, as the regulation subsequently ceased to bo strictly observed. Even
in Ueichart’s time the orchards in these districts were by no means very extensive; and it was only in
th e city gardens, and in some detached villages, th a t fruit cultivation was carried to a great height.
This branch of gardening does not appear to nave obtained a great superiority until towards th e end of
th e last century, and its rapid improvement followed th e establishment of a premium-fund, out of which
rewards were granted to th e planters of fruit and other useful trees. So completely did this institution
attain its object, th a t fruit cultivation made a most extraordinary progress throughout the whole of the
E rfurth te rrito ry ; and during many years from 30,000 to 40,000 fruit trees were regularly planted.
After this extension of cultivation, the robbing of orchards became a frequent offence. To repress such
depredations, ordinances were issued in the years 1795 and 1799, which not only inilictod severe punish-
ment, but provided that, in case of the robber not being discovered, the district in which th e offence
might be committed should bo obliged to make compensation for tho damage sustained. This made
every individual interested in preventing depredations on his neighbour’s p ro p e rty ; and tlic consequence
has been, such an improvement in orchard-gardening, that the state of cultivation in Keichart’s time
can by no means be compared with th e present. Our fruit cultivation would have risen to a still higher
point of prosperity, had not its progress been checked by some unfortunate circumstances. Among tlie
most disastrous were those connected witli the measures taken for fortifying the town, and its siege in
1813. Many thousands of fruit trees were then cut down, and our cherry plantations which lay near the
city sustained an extent of damage which was not easily repaired. Much mischief has also l)ccn done
by caterpillars, and in particular by the caterpillar of tfie frost moth, which is in Erfurth usually called
th e spaniol. Through a long scries of years, from tho beginning of this century to 1818, the ravages of
tlii.s caterpillar were so groat, that many proprietors of gardens began to lose all hope of future success.
But the very wet year, which' occasi■ onlee!d a V' ery grea.t. ..r.i..s..e.. ..i.n.. ...t.h..e... ..p..r..i.c..e.. ..o...f corn, .h..a..d.. ...a..l.s..o.. ..t.he effect of
nearly banishing this rnvenouscaterpillur, and we have since bad several highly favourable fruit harvests
Unfortunately, however, this moth reappeared in several places in the spring of 1828.
Che ■ry plantations at Erfurth.
It is there common, in
tatu:
they call ‘ The Cl
¡ Festival,’
is noted for a purtic
abundance; and which tlie nami
inferior to tho much esteemed Augustus cherry of Erfurtli
Other fru its . “ In the environs of E rfurtli, cherries and plums, nurticularly damsons, are ra the r more
abundant than apples and pears. N u t trees are scarce : and peacncs and apricots arc only to be found
in gardens in favourable situations. It is a fault in our cultivation tbat the more productive kinds of
trees are preferred, particularly in tlio villages, to the superior sorts. Tliis may be owing to there being
a t Erfurth no good nurseries, so th a t wc arc obliged to draw our supplies o fth e nobler species of fruit
trees cliiefly from otlier states. Tiiey are frequently obtained from Tottlcstadt, a village in the Gotha
territory, where there is a considerable nursery. Another disadvantage is, th a t tho various useful
applications of fruits arc as yet made to only a small extent. In very abundant years there is want of a
demand for the .surplus, and much fruit is given to tho hogs.
The progress ofthe cultivation o f the vine, “ which was probably introduced into Erfurth by the monks,
seems to have been very ra p id ; for it a^ipears from authentic documents, th a t as early as the twelfth
century the vineyards were in a flourishing state. We find it remarked, in reference to the year 1186,
that the commencement of th e vintage tlien took place in the beginning of August. The planting of tho
vino became more and more extensive in proportion as the population and prosperity of Erfurtli increased.
Four of the neighbouring villages have very extensive cherry plan-
tlie fruit season, for the people to assemble, and have a holiday, which
•y and which they celebrate witli rural sports. The village of Kirschheim
lar kind of clierry, which is valued on account of its size, delicacy, flavour, and
;h is well known under the name ‘ the Kirschhcimcr chc ■■I■t ■i■s, •however, far
In tlie liftoentli und sixteenth eciituries, and even in the seventeenth, almost all the heights
round Erfurth were covered with vines, and the vineyards extended to th e distance of several leagues
below tlie town ; so th a t more than a thousand Magdelmrgh acres must then have been occupied by vineyards.
Ilcnco we perceive the possibility of those great quantities of wine, of which particular accounts
are given in old chronicles and other documents, being obtained in favourable years.
The decline o f vine-planting “ appears, in a certain measure, to have corresponded
o fth e population of Erfurtli, wliich was occasioned by various circumstances, and im
the groat pestilence of 1(>83, by which 9437 of the inliabitants were swept away,
lobouring hands left after this calamity were not suflicicnt to maintain the extens
proper state of cultivation. Accordingly it appears tliat in many pl.aces the vines were rooted up, and
the grounds cmjiloyod for productions which required a less laborious cultivation. In ttie succeeding
century, other circumstances occurred to impede the progress of vine cultivation ; such as tho introduction
Mth t h e d e c r e a s e
•e p a r t ic u la r ly b y
The n um b e r s of
’in ey a r d s
of coffee and tea, the use of punch and brandy, &c. Various foreign liquors and wine.s were
imported, which must have operated against the consumption of our home-made wine. It must also be
considered tliat, on tlie potato and other new vegptables being introduced, tlieir culti
•unds. These circumstances Induced the
rdinance, in 17G0, by which
more certain profit, suiiplanted that of tho
Mcntz government, wliich wished to encourage th e wine tradì
persons who extirjiated their vinos were, notwithstanding, required to pay their share of tho cxjicnso of
maintaining the watch for the protection o fth e vineyards. This ordinance checked, but did not prevent,