MAKING THE BORDERS. 31 



trees, and consequently, the production of heavy 

 crops of fine fruit, borders or holes for the reception 

 of the trees must necessarily be made, the excavated 

 soil being replaced with prepared soils. The most 

 suitable soil for the purpose is the top three inches 

 of a down or pasture which has been grazed by 

 sheep, and which rests on a chalky or limestone 

 subsoil; and whether this be used when dug, or 

 after it has been cut and stacked a few months, 

 does not matter much. This may be used either 

 by itself or with additions of old lime-rubble, 

 wood-ashes, and horse-droppings, at the rate of 

 one cart-load of each to five loads of loam and 

 one ordinary garden barrowful of soot. The turfy 

 loam should be broken up with a spade or digging 

 fork, and the whole mixed \vell together before 

 being wheeled on to the excavated border or holes 

 which, in the meantime, have been prepared. 



MAKING THE BORDERS. 



Unless the subsoil or sub-stratum consists of 

 chalk or limestone, it will be advisable to bottom 

 the borders or holes with from four to six inches 

 of concrete or chalk well pounded, so as to prevent 

 the roots of the trees from pushing down into a 

 wet, poor, cold, uncongenial subsoil, and at the 

 same time to confine the roots in the prepared soil. 



