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C h a t . III.
Ofthe Formition and Planting o f an Orchard, mbsidiary to the Kitchen-garden.
2882. Aj! orchard, or a separate plantation o f the hardier fruit trees, is a common ap-
penclage to tho kitclien-garden, where that department is small, or docs not contain an
adequate mirahor of fruit trees to supply the contemplated demand of the fiimily. ^ Sometimes
the orchard adjoins the garden, and forms a part of the slip ; at otlier times it forms
a detached, and perhaps distant, enclosure ; and not unfrequently, in countries where the
soil is propitious to fruit trees, they are distributed over the lawn, or planted in a field
kept in pasture. Sometimes tho same object is effected by mixing Iruit trees m the
plantations near the garden and house.
2883. As to the situation, exposure, soil, and shelter of orchards, most of the observations
snbinitted as to these properties in kitchen-gardens will equally apply to th em ; bnt there
is this difference, that as orchards are not generally snrronnded by walls, and, when
full grown, are seldom under the spade, the surface may be much more irreg u lar; and,
in regard to form, it is a matter of no great consequence. Size will ot course be
regulated by the quantity of produce desired, and nothing can be more simple than the
aiTangement of the tre e s ; which is almost always that of th'b quincunx, the distances
between the plants being greater or less according to the sorts made choice of.
2884. As to the site f f an orchard, Abercrombie observes, “ land sloping to the east or
south is better than a lev el; a sheltered hollow, not liable to floods, is better than an
upland with the same aspect; and yet a gentle rising, backed by sufficient shelter, or tho
base of a hill, is eligible. A good loam, in which the constituents of a good soil predominate
over those of a hot one, suits most fruit trees : the subsoil should be dry, and the
dc])th of mould 30 in., or 3 ft. Before planting, drain if necessary ; trench to the depth
of 2 f t .; manure according to the defects of the so il; and give a winter and summer
tallow ; or cultivate the site for a year or tiyo as a kitclien-gardon, so that it may be
deeplv dug, and receive a good annual dressing.”
2885. In a situation much exposed, plant shrubs, or wilding fruits, as screens, or as
nurses: forest trees may be planted as an outer screen, but on a distant line, whence their
roots will not draw the soil to be occupied with fruit trees. Where ornamental grounds
present a good aspect, as well as a prepared shelter, fruit trees arc distributed in them to
great advantage.
2886. As to the size o f an orchard, Forsyth observes, “ it may be from one to twenty
acres, or more, according to the quantity of fruit wanted, or the quantity of ground that
you may have fit for the purpose.”
2887. Amj soil will do for an orchard which produces good crops of cora, grass, or
garden vegetables ; a loamy soil is to be preferred, though any of a good quality, neither
too light and dry, nor wet, heavy, and stubborn, but of a moderately soft and pliant
nature, will be found to answer the end. Shingly and gravelly soils disagree very much
with frnit trees, unless there be loam intermixed. They will succeed much better on a
chalk bottom. The trees will not, however, thrive long, even in the best soil, if stagnant
water rest in the subsoil; therefore it is necessary in the first place to dig test-holes, to
the depth of 4 ft. at le a st; and if water stand in them, drains must be formed so as to
c a n y off such subsoil water, and likewise, if possible, intercept its somce.
2888. The sorts o f fruits adapted for orchards are the more hardy apples, pears, cheiTies,
and plums ; the medlar, mulbeny,'quince, walnut, chestnut, filbert, berbcriy, aud some
others. According to Forsyth, a complete orchai-d ought to have, besides apple, pcar,
plum, and cherry trees, quinces, medlars, mulbcn-ies, seiwice trees, filberts, and berberries
; as also walnuts and chestnuts; the latter two of which are well adapted for
sheltering the others from high winds, and should therefore be planted in the boundaries
of the orchard, a little closer than ordinaiy, for that purpose. In an orchard for
raising crops for sale Abercrombie says, that fruit is the most profitable for which there
is the greatest demand. Apples arc first in utility ; but pears, cherries, plums, and
most of the other fruits in the subjoined selected list, are acceptable, for making pics
and puddings, for preserving, or for pickling, as well as in the dessert. According to the
extent and nature of the ground, mulberries, medlai-s, quinces, services, walnuts, chestnuts,
and all the sorts which will ripen their produce sufficiently on standards, may be
introduced. _ » » mi
2889. The varieties ofthe common orchard fruits recommended by Mi\ Thompson are
as folloiv: —
A-pi)Us.
E a rly rod M arg are t, E a rly harvest,
S um m e r g old cti p ip p in , D e vonsliiro
quarrend en, O slin, K e rry p ip p in , Kert
A straehan, A le xa nd e r. D u tc li cod lin,
K en tish cod lin. K in g o f th e p ippins,
W o rm s lc y p ip p in , H a w th o rn d o n , G olden
rc ino tte , lU b stou p ip p in . C o u rt o f
W ic k , B ea uty o f K e n t, W a lth a m Abbey
seedling, B le n h e im p ip p in ,
russet, D nm e lo w ’ s seedling. S trip ed
beauOii, B ra b a n t beUefleur, T o w e r o f
G lam m ls, Rhode Is la n d greening,
M a rg il, C laygato pc-armain, Adam s’s
lie a rm a in , S ca rle t no n p a re il, Pearson’ s
fo rd sh ire fo u n d lin g . M ère de M enage, p e n n u i,a c a iie i iiepiipaiiui,n - u iw i. s
Y o rk s h ire g reening , A lfris to n , R o y a l I plate, P itm a s to n no n p a re il, R em ette d u
C annila, D u tc h niig n o n iie . C o u rt pciidu
p la t, Cockle p ip p in , Boston iiic r p ip p in . russet. S tu r-
Pears.
C itro n des Carmes, A m b ro sia, S um m er
Fra n c R ea l, W illia m s ’s B on ch rétien ,
Jersey g ra tio li, F lem ish beauty, Comte
de L a m y , M a rie Lo uise, A lth o rp crassane,
F o iid a iito d’ autom no. B e u rré de
B c u rré do ran z, Joan do W
bergamotte.
Obs. A greater n um b e r o f t l m entio ne d sorts
C a p ia um on t, L o uise B onne o f Jersey
A ston to w n . B e u rré bosc, SuiTolk th o rn ,
B eu rre D ie], Fig uo de Naples, Napoléon,
P o ir N e ill, Lyew ood , B ro om P a rk ,
H a co n’s incom p arab le, T h om p son’s,
G lo u t m orceau, W in te r N é lis, Passe C olm
a r, K n ig h t's m o na rch , N e p lus m euris,
2890. The sorts o f plants :
means be resorted to fo r p rcsorvihg the
f r u it d u rin g w in te r and sp rin g ; th a t is,
p ac kin g th em in earthenw are vessels, -
i ll d ry w a re casks o r draw c
tlie m in a cool d ry place.
Cherries,
M a y duke, R oyal
b lack, E lto n , D ow n t
eagle, E a rh - p urp le
K e iitis li, M orello . e g uig ne, L a te duke,
Roy.ale I I _ „ .
Coo’ s lin e la te red. D ra p rl’or, .lelTersoii,
D iap re rouge. N e ctarine, V irg in , S hrop -
s liiro damson, O rleans, E a rly O rleans
S t M a rtin ’s Quetsche.
, choice o f fo r orchards arc invariably standards and
lialt-standards, and commonly such as are not more than one or tivo years from the
graft. Abercrombie and Nicol prefer “ maiden plants, or such as are only two years
irom the bud or graft, of all the above kinds, to older tre e s ; liaving boles or stems of
3 it. or 4 ft. m le n g th ; the apples being worked on crab, and the pears on free stocks.”
trees should stand in an orchard is, according to the
sarne author, trom 30 ft. to 40 ft. mo reo r less, accordmg to the quality of the so il; taking as the medium
ft J S ^ exposure, where the trees may not be expected to grow very freely
30 ft. are sufficient; whereas in good soil, and m a sheltered situation, 40 ft. may not be too much Cher
a s 7 S d i im % at from 24 ft. to 3C ft. accordiug to soil and s itL tio n a s X v e rt a k ? X ,
¿ n u n 1 Tl’ ^ distance a t which they are to stand clear of one another. But it
I ad ''‘7 u the first instance, to plant four trees for one th at is intended ultimately to re-
main ;.^ lanting th e proper kinds a t th e above distances flrst, and then temporary plants between them
X i ¿liliiiiTiI“ free-growing sorts th a t begin to produce fruit soon
i l l P 7 should be considered, and be treated, as temporary plants from tho beginning
i1 ^ 7 f I® ® principal trees as they advance in growth, by being pruned away by degrees
and a t last stubbed up entirely. If orchard trees be planted among shrubbery, &c., they may be planted
7 7 r^ T » t a n c e , exceeding 40 ft., th a t may b eth o u g h t p ro p e r; but they should not b i planted nearer
i S f f confine th e shrubs. In this case it will not be necessary to plant tomporary
trees as the principals will be nursed b y th e shrubs. In bleak situations, if forest and other
“ a y n o t be necessary to plant so many (if any) tern-
p o ia ry f iu ittr e e s ; or these may chiefly consist of the hardier sorts which produce fruit th e soonest
„ r r tW T 7 i ’ Abercrombie observes, “ the final distances a t which the plants should stand are, 20ft.’
? lu , standards, of those kinds which reach but a moderate size as trees ; and 30 ft. or 40 ft
tor the larger growing sorts. Temporary plants of such kinds as bear fruit soon may be planted at half
th e imal distances, in order to be pruned down, and a t last removed, when the principals require it.”
2892. The mode o f planting best adapted fo r standard trees is unquestionably that
of mudding in, and next that of fixing by water (2529, 2530.); one or other of
these methods should be adopted, where success and immediate gi’owth is an object,
and sliould be succeeded by staking, panning, mulching, clothing the stems, and
watering.
2893. Staking and protecting. “ If the stem of a tree is rocked by th e wind, th e root is prevented from
s^nootmg new fibres ; th e ground is also opened, so th a t in winter frost penetrates, and in summer the
not urymg wind. Having set up a firm stake to each high standard newly planted, twist a part of a hay-
nana round the tree to prevent it from galling, and with the remainder tie it securely to the stake.”
(AOercrombte.) Forsyth and Nicol agree in recommending staking to prevent the trees from beina
wind-waved. In respect to protection, Nicol observes, “ if th e orchard be not completely fenced, every
care should be taken to guard th e plants from hares, by properly bushing them round with thorns :
"'hich, I think, is the most eft’ectual method, and th a t least injurious to the tree s.”
2894. Panning and mulching. L e t a small basin or hollow be made round th e stem of each tree 1 ft
or 18 m. m diameter, and 2 in. or 3 in. deep, according to the extent of its roots. Fill this basin with
litte ry dung, to the thickness of 5 in. or 6 in.. over which sprinkle a little earth, ju s t enough to keep it
from being blown about. This both nourishes the young fibres, and keeps the ground about them moist
in hot weather, if wetted freely once a week. {NicoVs Kal., 220.) To protect the roots of autumn-planted
trees irom the frost of th e succeeding winter, and from drought in th e summer, Abercrombie directs
to lay mulch about th e stem, to th e distance of 2 ft. round, and G in. in thickness ; or substitute a
thin layer ot tu rf m summer.” Forsyth says, “ if it prove dry the spring after planting, dig up some
tu rt and lay it round the stem of the young trees with th e grassy side downwards ; this will keep the
ground moist, and save a deal of watering : if the trees have taken well, this need not be repeated as
they will be out of danger th e first year. The tu rf should be laid as far as the roots of the trees extend
; and when it is rotted, it should be forked in, which will be of great service to th em .”
2895. Clothing the stems o f standard trees by an envelope of moss, or short grass, or
litter wound round with slircds of matting, is of great use the first year after planting,
to keep the bai'k moist, and thereby aid the ascent and circulation of the sap iu the
alburnum. This operation should be performed at or soon after planting, and the
clothing may be left on till by decay it drops off of itself: it is of singular service in
very late p la n tin g ; or when, from unforeseen circiunstances, summer planting becomes
requisite.
2896. Watering. Newlyplanted orcliards must be attended to in respect to watering,
which should be repeated the oftener as the season advances, till the trees strike into the
soil. “ I f the planting is performed early in autumn,” Abercrombie observes, “ while
tlic weather is yet hot and dry, a little water may be given to assist the roots to strik e ;
but they ought not to be soaked with water, nor need watering be repeated. At
planting late in spring, should the ground be dry, give a. moderate ivatcring; which
repeat about once a fortnight during the hot months. Supposing the plantation to have
been made in winter, should a very dry spring follow, a few waterings may be necessary
until the plants strike.”