March 12, 1874. ] 



joubnaij op hobticultdee and cottage gaedeneb. 



S19 



the whole length of the border. Perhaps not much care of the 

 roots is required here— the spade may be used. The trench 

 having been cleared, either yourself, or the most trustworthy 

 of the men, commencing at one end, should, with a steel fork, 

 turn out the soil carefully the whole length of the border, 

 taking about a foot at each time ; and as the roots are loosened 

 they are to be tied back, pegged to the surface of the border 

 with a stick, and covered with mats ; another man follows and 

 clears away the soil which the first one has loosened ; and 

 when the latter gets to the other end of the border he again 

 commences, and so on until he comes to the large roots that 

 cannot be bent, and which are then carefully held aside by a 

 boy or man while the soil between them is forked out. I will 

 suppose that the man is now within S or 4 feet of the wall. 

 He should then fork out an opening between the trees up to 

 ■ the wall ; this done, fork away from the roots all the remaining 

 earth, loosening what he can between them, and I think the 

 tree will be easily lifted. It should be carefully removed to 

 some other wall, well fastened, and the roots properly covered. 



This having been done, the remainder of the soO should be 

 taken away and the surface well levelled, giving a good fall to 

 the front. Next take out a trench by the front edging (see 

 fig. 1), 3 being the longitudinal drain to carry-off water. The 

 width of the drain depends on whether it is to be formed of 

 stones or pipes ; it should be constructed to receive the water 

 from the flags or concrete, be below the level of these, and must, 

 of course, have an outlet as any other drain. Next cover the 

 whole surface of the border with flags well cemented-in, or, if 

 concrete is employed, it should be well laid and thoroughly 

 settled before other work is done. 



We will now begin to lay the air drains (4) in the plan, and 

 which may be of stone or be pipes ; if of stone they should be 

 about 9 inches wide and 4 inches high. They are covered with 



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Fig. 2. 



1, Wali. 



2, Front air shaft. 



3, Water drain. 



4, KuhWe. 



5, Air drain. 



6, Bacli air shaft. 



7, Earth. 



8, Flags or concrete 



9, WaU. 

 10, Edging. 



of the border. In my opinion there need not be so many of 

 them. 



The air drains should not be built solid but be just a form of 

 a drain, every encouragement being given for the warm air 

 that enters the shafts in front to penetrate the whole mass of 

 the border amongst the 6 or 8 inches of rough rubble filled-in 

 between the drains. I have the front openings from 14 to 

 20 feet apart, and so that they can be closed at will by means 

 of a flat stone. I consider the back drains may be closed wilU 

 advantage three or four hours after they have been opened, ur 

 when the cold air has passed out and wo wish to store up some 

 warm air. In other cases, where this attention cannot be given , 

 both should be left open. 



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A, li. Walk. 



1, Front air shaft. 



2, Edging. 



Fig. 1. 

 !J, Water drain. 

 4, Air drains under the 



horder. 



.'i. Back air shaft. 

 6, Wall. 



Fig. 2 exhibits a sectional view of the arrangement. The 

 aspect is south, but should it be north a great advantage would 

 be gained by carrying one set of air shafts through the wall so 

 as to open in the south aspect. Here we shall fall iu with 

 the warm air of that aspect and carry it to the north. In this 

 ease I would have no opening in the north side of the walk, 

 and would also construct the drain for part of the way under 

 the bottom of the border or flags, and so as to open into it 

 somewhere in the middle or even in front, and then to pass up 

 and out at the back openings, say at those marked .5. In Vine 

 borders the drains would open-up under the front row of hot- 

 water pipes inside the house. 



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" caps," are carried over the water drain in front, under the 

 edging marked 2, and open-up with a small shaft in the walk 

 as shown at 1. Air shafts (5) are also carried up at the 

 back ; these should not be in a line with those in front, as 

 that would cause a violent current, and the air would pass in 

 and out without any perceptible advantage to the other parts 



The drains being all laid, place a little litter to keep the 

 drainage free, and the new soil may then be put on. If it is 

 in a moderately dry condition it will bear a good treading, but 

 if wet it is well to have planks to walk and wheel upon. Fill- 

 up to the original level, C inches higher at the back perhaps 

 will be all the better, and fluish with a fine even surface. The 



