GENERAL PRACTICE. STATIONS AND MANURES. 45 



of ground to one particular kind of fruit, a few trees in the borders, or in certain 

 positions suitable for espaliers, or against walls or fences, being sufficient for the 

 requirements, and to trench or otherwise prepare ground for trees further than their 

 necessities prompt would be extravagant. The occupier of a garden may want a supply 

 of fruits for cooking and dessert. Previous efforts have resulted in disappointment, 

 because, though the strong soil was made friable to a foot depth, the roots passed into 

 clay subsoil. The branches then became mostly lichen-infested and canker-stricken. 

 Measures must be taken to prevent the roots striking into the clay. How is it to be 

 done ? That is the point. There are three methods : one is to re-drain and stir the 

 ground two feet deep, but keeping the top soil uppermost, and burning some of the 

 clay to mix with it ; the second is to dig holes wide and deep enough to hold sufficient 

 soil to last the trees for a generation, and some hard material placed at the bottom to 

 keep the roots out of the clay ; the third is to plant on the level and trust to periodical root 

 primings and top dressings to keep the fibres near the surface. The first is too expensive, 

 and the last ineffectual, as the roots are sure to descend sooner or later ; therefore the 

 middle plan is advised. Holes are dug a foot into the solid clay, which is taken away, 

 and six inches of macadam put down, with three or four inches of lime rubbish or 

 concrete, then two feet in depth of prepared soil. Stations so formed, where the trees are 

 to be planted in a border for pyramids or bushes, or in narrow strips of a yard in width 

 for borders, answer well. Those for pyramids and bushes nviy be six feet in diameter ; 

 four and a half feet sufficing for trees on the restrictive system. One thing makes the 

 difference in this case between success and failure, namely, drains for preventing 

 water collecting in the excavations. Without this provision the holes made may 

 become mere tanks, and trees planted in them are bound to fail. A drain passing 

 along the pits or macadamised space, filled with rubble over the pipes and connected 

 with a deeper main drain, will ensure success. Soil covered by stagnant water is poison 

 to the roots of fruit trees. 



MANURES. 



Most authorities lay it down as a rule that soils generally contain sufficient of 

 the mineral substances except lime, phosphorus, and potash, and the gaseous element, 

 nitrogen. It is, therefore, only considered necessary to supply those constituents 

 to convert barren into fertile ground, continuing their application as manures to 

 restore to the soil similar proportions of the substances abstracted by the crops. The 

 VOL. i. G 



