MARCH. 8^ 



vigorous state, such as our specimen presents at Dropmore, is very 

 ornamental, from its long slender grass-green leaves and graceful mode 

 of growth. In reference to this plant, Mr. Frost informs us that it was 

 planted in October, 1843, being then eleven inches high ; its piesent 

 height is eighteen feet, diameter of branches twenty-six feet, and 

 girth of trunk at one foot horn the ground two feet eight inches. ]\Ir. 

 F. further informs tnat it is partly sheltered from the north winds. 

 The soil at Dropmore is well known to be thin loam, renting on a bed 

 of gravel, and so far favourable as inducing only a moderate growth ; 

 the more vigorous specimens at Dropmore are all planted in prepared 

 soil. 



PEACHES ON OPEN WALLS. 



The system of culture that I am about to describe I have in a great 

 measure practised for many years in several counties of England, 

 widely apart from each other, and of its success many can bear witness 

 who have seen it carried on for the last seven years without a single 

 failure, the crops being every year abundant. 



I may observe that we labour under great disadvantages as to 

 climate. The place I am living in is in a low damp situation, on a 

 strong clay subsoil, within a mile of tide- mark on the east coast. The 

 prevaihng winds during the spring months being from the east, make 

 this place extremely cold and damp during their continuance ; indeed I 

 may say that spring only commences here in June, although this 

 season has certainly been an exception, as we had fine weather in 

 May. As it is always best to begin at the beginning, I will commence 

 with the formation ot" the borders, and treat of the subject under 

 separate heads as I proceed. 



First, as to the formation of the borders. I would recommend 

 them by all means to be thoroughly drained. I have no wish to enter 

 into the controversy lately carried on in the public journals, as to what 

 is to be termed shallow, or what is to be termed deep draining, as 

 from reading their articles on the subject, it appears to me that as the 

 advocates of the shallow system attempt to go a little deeper than 

 before, the advocates of the deep system, as if anxious to keep out of 

 their way, plunge deeper and deeper, leaving the point as to what is 

 to be termed deep or shallow draining still undecided ; but as I would 

 recommend the roots of the Peach tree to be kept as near the surface 

 as possible, and also to put the drains somewhat closer than forty feet 

 apart, I think three feet deep will answer every purpose for Peach 

 tree borders. 



The best soil to grow the Peach in is a good strong loam ; it need 

 not be more than two feet deep, and the border to be prepared should 

 be about the same width in feet as the wall is in height. I will now 

 suppose that the wall is built, the ground drained, and that the 

 intended border has one foot of the original soil of good quality left on 

 it, I would then procure turf (cut about three inches thick) from an 



