456 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



this is no argument why the best situation in the garden should not 

 be given to the best of all our hardy fruits. A few points east or 

 west of south will matter but little, but with this slight margin to 

 work upon I claim the south aspect for the Peach. 



In preparing borders for the reception of the Peach, my motto is, 

 " Do it well, and the better it is done the more profitable will it be in 

 the end." I am not a believer in that shortsighted economy which can- 

 not see the practicability of spending a shilling to-day because there is 

 no immediate certainty of having it returned with usury to-morrow. It 

 savours too much of the slothful servant and the unused talent in the 

 parable, and the gardener who does not do all in his power to have 

 this operation well done is sowing for himself the first seeds of the 

 want of success. The first thing to be observed when forming new 

 borders is, that they be thoroughly well drained. Common tile- drains 

 should run from the wall at distances of not more than 12 feet apart 

 down to a main drain which should have enough of fall to carry off all 

 superfluous moisture as rapidly as possible. These drains should not 

 be more than 2J feet deep, and should be covered over with from 

 8 to 10 inches of broken bricks, stones, or suchlike, so as to leave 

 from 20 inches to 2 feet for the soil of the border. This depth 

 I consider quite enough ; in fact, I believe that more success in Peach- 

 growing has been accomplished with borders about this depth than 

 when deeper. In this opinion I find most of our horticultural writers 

 agreed. 



I now come to the sort of soil that is best suited for the Peach. A 

 light mellow loam is what has been found generally to suit best. In 

 wet and cold localities I would be inclined to have a very light loam, 

 yet one possessing a good deal of vegetable matter ; and according to 

 the nature of the climate and the amount of rainfall should I be in- 

 clined to vary the nature and texture of it. In very dry localities I 

 would not object to a slightly adhesive loam, always choosing it if 

 possible from good old pasture, and consequently possessing abundance 

 of vegetable matter. Notwithstanding all this I would have no scru- 

 ples in attempting the cultivation of the Peach in any ordinary soil, 

 for it is my belief it does not depend so much upon the nature of the 

 soil, provided it be not positively bad, as upon the proper con- 

 struction of the border and the nature of the drainage. I say this 

 for the encouragement of those who may not have a choice in the 

 matter ; but to those who may have this, I recommend a moderately 

 heavy and rich alluvial soil, cut from an old pasture, and stacked for 

 nine or twelve months before being used. If of this nature, the addi- 

 tion of a few bones and a little charcoal will be found beneficial ; but 

 if it is rather poor, I would recommend a slight addition of cow-dung 



