260 VILLA GARDENING PART iii 



concrete foundcation is laid ; 1 iu 1 2 will generally suffice for that 

 purpose, and if needful a drain should be run along the front of the 

 border. The concrete, in the case of a higli wall and wide border, 

 need not extend all across the border ; from 6 to 8 feet will be 

 quite enough, as if the roots descend when they have passed over 

 the concrete they can be lifted periodically ; in fact this will be a 

 great advantage to them, as it will give an opportunity to examine 

 their condition and add a little fresh turf or compost if needed. 

 It is an excellent plan, where the soil is not naturally adapted for 

 the choicest kinds of fruits, never to lose touch altogether of their 

 roots. For the culture of fruits good brick walls are best, and they 

 are also cheapest. Some day, perhaps, glass may take the place 

 of bricks to a certain extent, but it will be a gradual process ; and 

 for many a year brick walls will enclose the gardens of first-class 

 villas. For stone fruits flues in the walls are a great advantage, 

 though I suppose scarcely any one builds them nowadays ; but, as 

 I remember them years ago, they were useful to ripen the wood in 

 autumn and to ward oft" frost in spring. Another advantage they 

 had — peach walls in those days were always dry by reason of their 

 being hollow. A flued wall, even if the fires are never lighted, is 

 better than a solid one, because it is drier, and consequently 

 warmer. The height of the wall will vary according to circum- 

 stances and position, but for a garden of an acre 12 feet is a nice 

 height. The coping should be sound and good (York stone being 

 the best), projecting on each side 3 inches, the lower edge of the 

 coping being grooved to collect and cast off the water clear of the 

 wall. A zinc gutter under the groove to carry off the water would 

 be a great improvement. 



Planting. — The border should have a month or two to settle 

 before the trees are planted. The peach will move successfully 

 when of considerable size, but if such trees have to be bought the 

 expense will be considerable. Taking all things into consideration, 

 if I had a peach wall to furnish I should not select trees older than 

 one year, trained, nicely balanced as to branches, with the wood of 

 moderate strengtli and well ripened. The trees should be bought 

 early in autmnn and broiight home. If the borders are not ready 

 for planting, the trees will take no harm if the roots receive the 

 necessary trimming and are heeled in somewhere. Select those 

 trees only which have stout healthy stems, and are free from all 

 appearance of canker and gum. It is certain that some trees fail 

 through want of reciprocal action or lack of fitness for each other 

 in the stock and scion. The trees should be planted before Christ- 

 mas. I like to plant about 14 feet apart, and rearrange the trees 

 at a future time 'if more room be needed. If the wood is well 



