POSITION OF KITCHEN GARDEN. Ill 



phosphates and nitrogen may also be supplied in the form 

 of artificial manure. If the ground can be trenched a few 

 months before planting, so much the better. And if in 

 the summer time, let it lie fallow, but fork it over and stir 

 it frequently, to enable it to absorb as much as possible of 

 the fertilizing proper-ties from the air. The ground being 

 thus pulverized, sweetened, and fertilized, will be in an 

 excellent condition for planting in the autumn. If, how- 

 ever, it should be impossible to prepare the soil in the 

 summer, it may be trenched in the winter, and thrown 

 up roughly to the action of the frost, and planted in the 

 spring. 



Preparation of Borders. The borders adjoining the 

 walls or fences where the choicest fruit trees are to be 

 planted require special preparation. In the first place, 

 they should be deeply trenched and drained, as before 

 described ; and always so arranged that the ground slopes 

 from the wall towards the path, and means must be 

 provided for the escape of water from the front of the 

 borders, as it may be necessary to apply a large quantity 

 of water artificially in cultivating the trees on the wall. 

 If the subsoil is at all retentive and ungenial, it will be 

 needful to apply a coating of brick rubble, or even con. 

 crete, over the bottom. This having been done, incor- 

 porate with the soil a quantity of light, fibrous loam, turf, 

 or other suitable material, to render it lighter and more 

 porous. On the other hand, if the soil is light and sandy 

 or gravelly, it may be needful to apply an addition of 

 strong loam or even clay. If clay is used, it should be 

 applied dry, and, if possible, broken fine, so as to incor- 

 porate it thoroughly with the soil. 



Apply fresh, manure at the time of preparing the bor- 

 ders, but on no account give them an over dose. If the 



