ESPALIER-RAILS SOIL. 3 1 



simplest form, they are merely a row of slender stakes of 

 ash or Spanish chestnut, driven into the ground, and con 

 nected by a slight rod or fillet at top. In some gardens 

 the perpendicular rods are fastened into two horizontal 

 rails, supported by strong posts, which are battened into 

 stones. Cast-iron rails have also been proposed. The 

 framework is~ sometimes inclined to the horizon, or adapted 

 to a sloping bank, as in the gardens of the Earl of Selkirk, 

 at St. Mary s Isle ; where some of the trees, although so 

 trained more than sixty years ago, are still in a healthy 

 condition, bearing abundant crops of fruit. In other cases 

 the framework is placed flat like a table, and when there is 

 plenty of room, this proves a good arrangement. Espalier- 

 rails, especially the more elaborate sorts, are expensive and 

 formal ; and, therefore, in many instances, have given place 

 to dwarf standard trees, whic.h are equally productive, and 

 far more elegant in their appearance. 



Soil. It is of great importance that the ground select 

 ed for a garden should be naturally of a good quality. A 

 hazel-colored loam, of a light or sandy texture, is well 

 adapted for most crops, whether of fruits or culinary vege 

 tables. Porosity is indispensable not only for the transmis 

 sion of moisture, but of air, to the roots of plants. As it 

 is more easy to render a light soil sufficiently retentive 

 than to make a tenacious clay sufficiently porous, a light 

 soil is preferable to one which is excessively stiff and heavy. 

 It is advantageous to possess a variety of soils ; and if the 

 garden be on a slope, it will often be practicable to render 

 the upper part light and dry, while the lower remains of a 

 heavier and damper nature. The soil should be good to 

 the depth of two feet, and any necessary additional deep 

 ening by manures or otherwise should not be neglected. 

 The nature of the subsoil demands particular attention. If 



