4 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



up to their legitimate occupants — viz., the roots of the fruit-trees ; 

 many, in fact, would not be allowed to do so by their employers, even 

 if so inclined. They are therefore dug and cropped, and not always 

 sufficiently manured — the consequence being, the impoverishment of 

 the soil, and the destruction of many of the best roots by digging, there- 

 by causing the roots to go down to the subsoil, as only those escape 

 which have struck down into the oftentimes cold soil. 



According to my ideas every border should at least be 20 feet wide, 

 and be cropped only to within 5 feet of the walls. This would allow 

 ample space for the roots of the fruit-trees, and also admit of that 

 portion of the border devoted to vegetable culture occasionally being 

 double-dug — which operation would greatly benefit both the vegetables 

 and the trees, as the digging would be a mild form of root-pruning the 

 latter. The main path would of course be in front of the border, but 

 a light ungravelled path would of necessity be made as near the walls 

 as the trees would admit. These paths, composed of the same soil as 

 the borders, if not trampled too solidly, or much wheeled upon, do 

 not appear to injuriously affect the trees ; but where it can be man- 

 aged, I should advise the use of large square paving-tiles, if for clean- 

 liness' sake alone. They could either be laid down closely, to admit of 

 being wheeled upon, or they may be short distances apart, in the way 

 of " stepping-stones." 



When I propose the giving up of 5 feet of the border to the trees, 

 I do not overlook the value of the vegetable crops obtained at the foot 

 of the walls, where so much may be done in the way of forwarding or 

 retarding certain crops. To favour the trees, and indeed the vege- 

 tables also, I recommend the placing of a ridge of good soil, about 18 

 inches wide, and at least 9 inches deep, close to the walls, and above 

 the level of the borders. These can be cropped and worked with 

 little or no injury to the trees, and materially hasten vegetables to 

 maturity. This not quite original idea may appear rather fanciful to 

 some, but I have proved it to be a really good one, and consider it 

 worthy of general adoption. In this paper I will, as briefly as possible, 

 detail my practice with regard to cropping these ridges. Having al- 

 ready written upon " Early Vegetables," although principally with re- 

 gard to frame-culture, repetitions in the course of my remarks may 

 unavoidably occur. It is a generally recognised fact that a few small 

 dishes of any choice vegetables sent in for the dining-table at a time 

 when very scarce — that is to say, either very early or very late in the 

 season — are more appreciated than large quantities supplied at a time 

 when " everybody has them." Employers appreciate a dish of Early 

 Peas, Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Beans, &c. -; and a dish of either often 

 " comes in handy," at a time when there, is but little variety of vege- 

 tables presentable. If this were not the case, there would be no 

 stimulus to this extra exertion on the part of gardeners, as the results 

 of much labour are often, to all appearances, very meagre indeed. 



