iSji.] BORDERS FOR WALL-TREES. 27 



is a love for the profession for its own sake ; the second, energy ; and 

 the "third, skill : have the first, and the rest will be added unto you. 



JSTORTH OF THE TrEXT. 



MAKING BOKDEKS FOR WAIiL-TIlEES OK" 

 BAD SUBSOILS. 



Ox an entire renovation of the garden being made here, and when 

 starting to take out the foundation for the wall, we had to go to the 

 depth of 6 feet before a solid foundation could be got. After 20 

 inches of soil on the top, all the rest was loose red sand. I decided 

 to concrete both sides of the wall to the width of 14 feet. AYhen the 

 wall was finished, the little good soil on the top was removed to the 

 garden quarters, the sand wheeled right away to the depth of 30 

 inches at the wall below the ground-level, and 33 inches at the out 

 edge, so that there is plenty of fall for water to run off ; and along the 

 front a drain was cut, 8 inches deep, and the width of a spade. Being 

 all ready for the concrete, there was brought nice-sized gravel, laid in 

 quantities of about 4 tons, and 1 ton of coal-ashes, to which was 

 added 1 ton of lime fresh from the kiln, which had as much water 

 thrown on it as make it fall ; then it and the gravel were mixed 

 together, covering all over with the ashes. After letting it lie in this 

 state for twelve hours, it was well mixed by turning it over several 

 times, adding more water if required, but keeping it rather adhesive 

 than otherwise (as it sets quicker when not too free), and laying it on 

 at once to the depth of 3 inches all over, beginning at one end, so 

 that there is no treading on the concrete until perfectly dry. When 

 smoothing it down, if found too firm and not smoothing well, have a 

 watering-pot with a rose, and sprinkle a little water over it, but no 

 more than will enable the operator to level it properly, bearing in mind 

 to let it have the same fall from the wall to the outside as the founda- 

 tion of sand in which it is laid. It must now be let alone until it is 

 thoroughly hard, which will be in about ten days if the weather is 

 fine and dry, when some nice round boulders were put all on the top, 

 to the depth of 4 inches, and filling up the drain in front at the same 

 time to the same level. Then a good thick sod, with the grass side 

 downwards, was laid all over the drainage, before the regular filling up 

 with soil was commenced, which, when done, was raised 6 inches 

 higher than the natural ground, to allow for subsiding, keeping it 

 always a few inches higher at the wall — giving it a gentle fall to 

 the box-edge. From the nature of our subsoil here, I have found 

 these borders, through the very dry season which we have had, to 



