14 THE FLORIST. 



any odd litter, leaves, or loose spray from the clipping of hedges, with 

 the object of preventing the soil from washing down into the drainage, 

 which should, by the bye, have the finer portions placed uppermost. 

 The excavation for the border should be so managed that when the 

 border soil is placed on the bottom it should be eight or ten inches at 

 least above the level of the front of the border ; this will throw the 

 border considerably above the general surface, a point of much 

 importance especially — as we noticed above — where the climate is un- 

 favourable. So much for drainage ; I must next proceed to notice soil. 



In many places this is a great drawback to Peach growing, and 

 parties planting this fruit, sooner than be at much expense in procuring 

 proper compost, plant the trees in common garden soil, which most 

 likely has been annually enriched for years with manure, and the 

 result is that in two or three years the trees are in that state of 

 luxuriance that no after management can save them, and they fall a 

 prey to canker or gum, or the equally fatal blight — i. e., the black and 

 green aphis. This is no over-coloured statement. If all the Peach 

 trees which are yearly planted had proper care taken in providing them 

 with a suitable soil, why one-third or less of the number would suffice. 

 But I think I hear some one say, How are the nurserymen to live ? 

 I hope they will forg've me for naming them, but, if a gentleman had 

 not to buy so many young Peach trees as formerly, he has the cash for 

 something else in the nursery way. Besides, did more success attend 

 Peach growing than is now the case, many others would follow the 

 example ; and I doubt not, instead of losing a customer they would 

 gain by the result. 



The Peach will grow in almost any soil, excepting those very sandy, 

 or of a stiff clay. Some other soils are inimical to the Peach, as those 

 which contain a large proportion of iron. I have found that the Peach 

 is a very short-lived tree, when growing on the upper greensand 

 formation ; no doubt owing to the soil containing particles of the silicate 

 of iron. The soils most suitable are calcareous loams, especially when 

 of a marly texture ; the yellow loams found round London, and in 

 most of the south-eastern counties, the red loams of the new red sand- 

 stone ; in fact, colour is not so essential as consistency, and any soil 

 between yellow and a dark brown inclining to peat will answer if it 

 contain a sufficiency of clay or marl to come under the term loam. If 

 possible, it should be taken from pasture land, spit deep, and can 

 generally be procured from commons, moors, or waste land, selecting it 

 from high ground, as preferable to low, the latter being sometimes 

 soured from springs or lying damp. When this is unavoidable, a little 

 fresh lime should be thrown over the under-sides of the turves when 

 stacked. When the loam is got together stick it up in narrow ridges, 

 and in a couple or three months it will be fit for use. But fresh loam, 

 as I have described, cannot be obtained, and therefore a substitute must 

 be provided ; the cleaning out of ditches, and parings of roads, &c., are 

 within every one's reach ; these should be mixed with soaie heavy loam 

 from arable land, or common garden soil which has not had much 

 manure ; these should be well mixed together, and if the compost 

 appear too close and heavy, a small quantity of stubble or Bean- 



