OCTOBER. 291 



wetness and cold may be called synonymous terms when applied to the 

 soil), and when once fallen into this state no care in the management of 

 the Vine during forcing will enable it to grow with vigour or produce 

 fruit equal to expectation. On the contrary, the shanking of Grapes 

 and non-productiveness of Peaches in such soils are proofs that cold- 

 ness at the roots is the great impediment to good crops. The quantity 

 of rain which falls in the average of seasons in this country is great 

 compared with those in which our best fruits are indigenous, and, in 

 addition, the general dampness of our atmosphere prevents that free 

 evaporation which is continually taking place in countries having a 

 brighter climate than our own. 



We are aware that the appliance of hot water pipes under the borders 

 of tender fruit trees in the open air would not prevent their receiving 

 the same quantity of rain as before, and that it might even, by heating 

 a damp soil, aggravate the evil we are trying to subdue, by increasing 

 their growth beyond what the season would mature ; but we nmst 

 recollect that the heating is entirely under our control, to be regulated 

 at pleasure, and that supposing we take the ordinary precaution of 

 preventing the heavy rains of autumn from entering our borders, we 

 may be sure that bottom heat applied from ]\Iay to July would 

 materially forward the growth of Peaches and other tender kinds of 

 wall fruits ; and having made their growth early, they would stand the 

 greatest chance of getting it well ripened. And if at the same time the 

 autumnal rains could be excluded until the wood was fully ripened, and 

 indeed throughout the winter, we see no reason whatever why full 

 crops should not be produced regularly each year,"^ even without much 

 protection in the spring. Indeed, we venture to affirm such would be 

 the case. 



We are speaking now of Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Figs, &e. ; 

 we take these as being the more tender of wall trees, and when we 

 consider at what expense borders for these trees are prepared, added 

 to the additional cost each year for protecting their blossoms from frost, 

 and know how entirely uncertain is the chance of a crop of fruit, we are 

 of opinion that the laying down of a three or four-inch flow and return 

 hot water pipe would be a simple act of economy. Now supposmg we 

 were making a border for the above trees we should not attempt making 

 it the width generally practised, being convinced that a much less space 

 will better answer the purpose ; for low walls we should say a width 

 of six feet for the border ample, and 12 or 18 inches wider for higher 

 walls ; and as this border would be heated, two feet six inches or even 

 three feet in depth may be allowed ; below this two open drains for 

 the pipes should be carried, one at two feet six inches from the wall, 

 and the outside one at three feet distance from the first ; over these 

 place slates or thin stones, and again from two to three inches of rubble 

 stone or brickbats broken rather small, on which may rest the soil of the 

 border. 



We shall not attempt to notice the way in which the pipes should be 



* We shall be glad to hear what our correspondent, Mr. Saul, has to say 

 to this. 



u 2 



