THE FLORAL WORLD AND aARDEN GUIDE. 205 



sure, in some places, the ultimate success of all our labours. In 

 fact, it is after the selection of the site the first step on the road to 

 success, if well done. Fortunately there are instances where ex- 

 pensive preparations may be dispensed with, but this only occurs in 

 some few naturally favoured positions, while there are others where 

 all attempts to grow them even for a few years successfully have 

 failed for the lack of this attention. But the most surprising part 

 of this is that proprietors should bo satisfied to go on from time to 

 time renewing their trees without making an eflort to do the thing 

 well after it has once deceived them. During my time I have known 

 many such instances, and am convinced, from what I have seen, that 

 the expenses incurred annually for new trees and new soil would, in 

 a very few years, cover the expenses of a properly-drained and con- 

 creted border, which would give a far greater hope of success, and 

 would also satisfy the mind that all that could be had been done. 

 But I am not advocating expensive borders where they are not 

 wanted ; I should much rather be disposed to give the least favour- 

 able spot a fair trial without them ; but, on the other hand, I 

 seriously advise that the following plan be carried out where there 

 is any doubt about peaches thriving ; it will save much time and 

 many disappointments. 



Take all the earth out two feet deep next the wall, and two feet six 



inches at the outside width of the border; this extra six inches 



along the front is necessary to secure a proper fall for the water, and 



some care is requisite to get the gradual fall from back to front. I 



have no faith in wide borders ; ten feet is ample, as it is far better 



to have a narrow border well done than one twice the desired width 



imperfectly completed. The earth being taken out, the border is 



then fit for concreting. It is best to employ bricklayers for the 



purpose, as they are more fit for the work, and a couple of men will 



do a good space in a day if the materials are close at hand. If the 



weather is fine, the part they do one day will be fit for the gardener's 



use the next. A small drain-pipe should then be laid along the 



front, with a proper outlet; and if a four-inch wall is run along the 



front so as to completely confine the roots, so much the better. A 



covering of five or six inches of stones or brickbats is the next 



essential to secure a good drainage ; upon this place a covering of 



rough turves, or any other loose material, and the border is then fit 



for the soil, and the best soil is undoubtedly a good mellow loam 



from the top spit of a pasture field turned up into moderate-sized 



heaps daring summer for a month or two. Divide the spits into 



two before they are placed in the border. If the loam should be the 



least stifi", mix it with old mortar and brick rubbish, or any other 



coarse material. Bather than omit this, I would use very coarse 



cinder-ashes, or indeed anything that would help to keep the soil 



open and porous, for it is surprising, after a few years, how close and 



impenetrable to root action soils of this description will sometimes 



become. But for the peach and nectarine avoid the use of strong 



manure, as it creates a gross succulent growth. It is better to supply 



this as a mulching if at any time the trees are found to be weak. A 



little coarse leaf-mould may be ijiixed with the soil at the time of 



