15^2 THE FRUIT GARDE^^ : 



it a fall of six or eight inches. Run a drain along* 

 by the conjunction of the border and walk, a few- 

 inches lower than the bottom thus formed, which 

 shall be capable of completely draining off both un- 

 der and surface w^ater. It may be a rubble drain, 

 or a box-drain, according to necessity. 



Now lay over the bottom, thus formed and 

 smoothed, two inches of good earth, if clayey, so 

 much the better ; which pulverize, and pass the 

 roller over ; then an inch of clean pit or river gra- 

 vel, which also pass the roller over ; another inch 

 of earth, as above, vdiich also roll ; and, lastly, an 

 inch of gravel, also as above. This should be done 

 with the materials rather in a dry state ; but now 

 moisten the whole moderately with a watering-pot, 

 and roll until tlie suface acquires a hard, shining- 

 consistency. Keep rolling and watering alternate- 

 ly, till the whole becomes firm, glazed, and till the 

 earth and gravel be intimately mJxed and incorpo- 

 rated. 



Thus may a bed be formed for the roots of fruit- 

 trees, much superior to one of stone or brick, and 

 at an expense infinitely less ; of a nature more 

 kindly, and which no root will penetrate. 



The compost earth should now be thrown in, ha- 

 ying been previously prepared and laid up in a 

 ridge along the outer edge of the border, before the 

 floor thus made get damaged by wet, or other acci- 

 dents ; and care must be taken, that at no future 

 period it be disturbed in digging or trenching the 

 border. 



A tit composition for apples, apricots, cherries 



