Hints on the Preparation of Fruit Borders. 93 



the table, proceeds not from a deficiency of skill, but from the want of 

 time, so necessary for the production of fine and perfect specimens ; in 

 consequence of which the practical gardener is unable to compete with 

 those wl:o have every convenience to enable them to raise a variety 

 of rich and rare productions. It is well known to every cultivator, 

 that his ground ought to be well [)repared, or he cannot expect to 

 reap a good crop. In order to accomplish this, it requires a longer 

 period to execute the work than most gardeners are allowed ; and for 

 the want of proper time and materials, he fails in some of the most 

 important branches of his business. After having prepared his land, 

 the seed is sown, or the tree planted ; next comes the attention 

 necessary to perfect the crop, and this part of the work often proves 

 the most troublesome, and frequently fails by some unforeseen acci- 

 dent, or from a multitude of visitors that too often intrude upon his 

 time : I knovv of no class of men that are more troubled with 

 too many guests tlian the gardener. Some seasons are very unfa- 

 vorable for delicate crops, but this, of course, the gardener is not an- 

 swerable for : there are other reasons why some fail in producing 

 good crops; one of v>-hich is allowing them to remain too thick ; and 

 for this reason they do not succeed in producing what are considered 

 by horticulturalists good specimens. This is a point that every ex- 

 perienced gardener endeavors to guard against, but he is sometimes 

 overpowered with the pressure of work, in consequence of which he 

 cannot do as he otherwise would. Tiiere are many who plant fruit 

 trees, shrubs, Sic, without making any preparation suitable for their 

 growth and prolific bearing ; this proves an unprofitable way of plant- 

 ing ; but to procure good specimens of fruit, it is necessary to begin 

 the work judiciously, by laying a good foundation before the tree is 

 planted ; and here it may be proper to point out such kinds as re- 

 quire the most particular attention. 



The grape in this climate, I consider, requires the greatest skill to 

 ripen it to perfection ; but of its culture 1 shall for the present pass 

 over. The peach in England requires the gardener's most particular 

 attention to enable him to grow large and fine-flavored fruit ; and its 

 culture is, every year, becoming more dlflicult in this climate. In the 

 former, it is grown against high brick walls, where it arrives to great 

 perfection, and is deservedly admired ; and it is one of the young 

 gardener's greatest achievements in horticulture, to train it in a beau- 

 tiful style to the wall ; the peach is planted generally on a south and 

 south-west aspect, and as much trouble is taken to prepare the bor- 

 der, as is taken in this country to make a border for the grape vine ; 

 it also requires as much attention to select and ripen the fruit bear- 

 ing wood for the ensuing year, as it does to encourage the fine clear 

 cane of the vine, for a good crop of grapes. Those who have not 

 seen or read of the attention that is necessary to be given to the 

 peach in England, would hardly credit it ; the summer season is the 

 time that care is requisite, to keep the young fruitful wood thin, 



