334 VILLA GAEDENING part iv 



iit home for the digging I tliiuk it is a very shortsighted policy to 

 withhold it. If the old soil excavated is carted to the place from 

 which the turf has been cut, levelled down, and sown thickly w^th 

 Grass seeds, as good if not a better sward will be obtained in two 

 or three years, and the object is worth some little sacrifice. The 

 border should be excavated about 3 feet deep, the necessary drain 

 should be run along the front, and, if the subsoil is bad, 4 or 5 

 inches of concrete should be placed in the bottom. When that has 

 had time to get dry and firm, the border may be made — about 2i 

 feet will be a good deptli for the soil, and 6 inches or more in 

 damp situations may be above the ground level. The front wall 

 of the house should be built on arches. The border should be 

 made in autumn, and the trees planted as soon as the soil has had 

 time to settle. If bearing trees can be lifted from the walls 

 at home I should prefer them to those purchased, and a crop 

 can be had the first year. There will be no diflSculty in 

 accomplishing this if the trees are lifted carefully and planted early 

 in autumn ; but if young trees have to be purchased in order to 

 furnish the house quickly, dwarfs and riders or standards may be 

 planted alternately. No manure, if the soil is maiden loam, should 

 be added. When more support is needed, liquid manure can be 

 given, or artificial stimulants may be employed. If the border is 

 made too rich the trees make gross wood, which foils to ripen, and 

 the blossoms fiill instead of setting. When this occurs the roots of 

 the trees shoiUd be lifted in autumn to give them the requisite 

 check. During the first year the young shoots should be laid in 

 regularly, about 6 inches apart, pinching back laterals to one leaf. 

 In some cases the laterals when well placed may be laid in to 

 furnish the trellis. A genial atmosphere should be maintained, 

 and the foliage must be kept clean and free from insects, red-spider 

 l)eing most to be dreaded, especially if hot weather sets in, and the 

 atmosphere of the house be kept too diy. As autumn approaches 

 everything possible should be done to induce early ripening without 

 giving any decided check. A free ventilation night and day will 

 conduce to this — less water will be required at the roots, but 

 anything approaching absolute dryness must not occur. When 

 growth has ceased, and the young wood is putting on the red tint 

 some cultivators like so much to see, the lights, if it be convenient, 

 may be taken ofi", and a full exposm-e given. That may not always 

 be possible, but it is a good plan, gi\ang the trees a more perfect 

 rest. This will complete the first season's work, and when the 

 leaves fall what little pruning is required should be done, and the 

 trees washed with Gishurst compound, 4 oz. to the gallon of water, 

 applied with a sponge to the small branches, drawing it carefully 



