THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 145 



when in a dry state, making it rather firm by beating 

 it with the back of a fork, and allowing 2 or 3 inches 

 for subsiding. As in the case of vine -borders, I 

 recommend that only part of the border be made at 

 first, the rest to be added in 3 or 4 feet widths, as 

 the roots of the trees extend. In thus making a 

 peach-border with fresh, turfy, strong loam, I do not 

 advise the use of any manure except the few bones, 

 which stimulate slightly over a long series of years. 

 Common manure, either from the stable or cow-house, 

 is undesirable at first, on account of the natural ten- 

 dency of young peach-trees to make rank, unfruitful 

 growths. The borders can be enriched in after-years, 

 when the trees require it, by top-dressing and water- 

 ing with manure- water. 



I would be sorry to convey, by these directions, 

 the idea that very considerable success in peach- 

 culture is not attainable except when fine fibry cal- 

 careous loam can be had from an old pasture. No 

 doubt the character of the soil in some gardens 

 demands that all, or nearly all, the soil for the peach- 

 border should be exchanged for some of a very differ- 

 ent character. Where the natural soil is very sandy, 

 or gravelly, and shallow, satisfactory results need not 

 be expected unless fresh soil to some considerable 

 extent be added to it, or wholly substituted. In this 

 case, and when strong loam cannot be had, some 

 strong soil, of a sound clayey nature, should be mixed 

 with the light soil; and the parings of roadsides, with 

 the herbage and roots, will also assist in making the 

 soil more suitable. Where, on the other hand, the 

 natural soil is a very strong, adhesive clay, its unsuit- 

 ableness in that respect can be greatly remedied by 

 burning a third of it and mixing it with the original, 



K 



