160 



GARDEN MANAGEJIENT. 



excess of moiBtuie, however, by reducing the temperature and excluding 

 the air, decomiDoses the seed before the vital principle can develop itself. 

 Hence the frequent complaint of bad seed on wet soils. This will be rendered 

 still more obvious by the following diagrams, which prove the beneficial 



influence exercised by di'ainage upon the 

 soil, and were exhibited before the High- 

 land Agricultm-al Society by Dr. Madden, 

 of Penicuik, in 1844, Tlicy are highly- 

 magnified sections of soil in three dif- 

 ferent conditions. Under the microscope, 

 soil is seen to be made up of numerous 

 distinct porous particles. Fig. 1 repre- 

 sents it in a perfectly dry state ; both 

 the soil and the channels between being 

 quite diy. Fig. 2, on the other hand, 

 represents a soil perfectly wet ; the par- 

 ticles themselves are full of water, and 

 so are the channels between them. In 

 fig. 3 the particles are moist, while the 

 passages between them are filled with 

 air. These diagi-ams show that soil in 

 the condition exhibited in figs. 1 and 2 

 was totally unfit for the germination of 

 seed. In fig. 1 there is no water ; in 

 fig. 2 there is no air ; in fig. 3 both are 

 present, in the proportions favourable to 

 the growth of seeds, and those are requi- 

 site to insure the vigorous growth of the 

 plant throughout all its stages ; therefore 

 fig. 3 is the condition of soil desiderated 

 for all cultural purposes, and exhibits 

 that congenial admixture of earth, water, 

 and air, that plants delight in, and which 

 efficient drainage only can provide for 

 them. 

 377. Orchard.— The grafting of most of our fruit-trees upon stocks being 

 calculated to produce short stunted growth, has considerably modified the 

 practice of hardy-fruit culture. Unless the demand for fruit is very great, I 

 would not generally recommend the formation of orchards. I have, however, 

 supposed the latter to be the case in the plan given at page 73, and have, 

 consequently, indicated the position of the orchard. It will be seen to be 

 entirely sheltered from the north and north-east, and hidden from the 

 pleasure-ground by shrubberies. It has a gentle inclination, and full 

 exposure to the south, and, both in form and position, is well adapted for its 

 intended pui-pose. The soil is a good loam, 4 feet in depth, resting upon 



