The Gardener's New Director. 21 



Management of the Borders. 



F the borders, upon which thofe trees are to be 

 planted, fhould prove a wet foil, let gravel or lime- 

 rubbifh be laid one foot and a half thick at bottom, to be 

 beat down ; and over it three feet of good loainy frelTi 

 pafture- ground, with its turf, which has been taken only 

 ten inches deep below the furface, and which has lain 

 twelve months, or more, to fweeten and rot before it 

 is ufed. The border is to be raifed one foot and a 

 half above the furface of the ground. Should your foil 

 be rocky or of a gravelly nature, lay this compoft over 

 it, but be careful not any way to loofen the grave!. 

 Such a foil is favourable to plant Figs or Vines. But 

 for our prefent plantation, I would prefer a good loamy 

 bottom to any foil, for mod forts of fruits, over which 

 I would lay the comports I have jud: prefcribed. The 

 breadth of thefe borders fhould be eight or ten feet, the 

 broader the better, but fhould never be deeper than 

 three feet, that being fuf?icient for the roots of moft trees, 

 to receive the benefit of the fun's rays and of rain: for 

 when they are deeper, they draw from the earth many 

 undigefted juices, which prevent their fruit from ripen- 

 ing. 



Dire^iions for Planting, and Heading the Trees. 



THEbeft planting feafon in middling dry ground is Oc- 

 tober, and then you have the choice of the niirferies, 

 before they are drawn and picked ; but if your foil is wet, 

 February or the beginning of March mufl be chofen ; for 

 at that time of the fpring, the ground is beginning to dry 

 by the influence of the fun, iind the young fibres of 

 the trees will not be fo liable to be injured, as if they 

 had been planted in Odober or Nove?nber, when the fun's 

 influence on the earth is declming, and winter talt 

 approaching. 



If your plantation is to be made in October, lay in tiie 

 compoll, and make up the border in Aignjl-^ but it 



C 3 not 



