32 THE BOOK OF THE PEACH. 



With regard to the depth and width of a border 

 necessary to the production of heavy crops of first-rate 

 peaches, I satisfied myself many years ago by practical 

 experience of the advantage of a border about ten or 

 twelve feet wide, according to the width of house, 

 and two feet three inches deep immediately inside 

 the front wall, sloping down to a depth of eighteen 

 inches at the northern limits of the border inside 

 a " lean-to " house, having either a south, south-west, 

 or south-east aspect. The last-mentioned aspect is 

 preferable for a house in which peaches are expected 

 to be ripe at the end of April or early in May, 

 inasmuch as the roof glass will be fully exposed 

 to the beneficial influence of the sun's rays during 

 the winter and spring months that is whenever 

 the sun shines forth during those usually dull 

 months to warm up the forcing-houses and thereby 

 benefit the subjects being forced therein. The 

 depths given above include four or five inches of 

 brickbats or clinkers, broken somewhat fine on top 

 for drainage. Stones with a little gravel put on 

 top to fill in the chinks would answer the purpose 

 equally well. The bottom of the border should 

 slope at the rate of one inch in the foot to the 

 back wall. The drainage should be covered with 

 turfs (where easily obtainable) a couple of inches 

 thick, one foot wide, and from two to three feet 

 long grassy side down. This will prevent the 



