112 FRUIT CULTURE. 



soil be fresh and fibrous, lime and soot may be applied, 

 and old mortar rubbish is very beneficial, if obtainable. 

 Over-manuring the borders is too often resorted to in 

 preparing them, with the result that the trees, especially 

 peaches and nectarines, make rank wood growth, and are 

 apt to produce over-luxuriant branches, which do not 

 ripen properly, but have to be cut away, with the danger 

 of aggravating their condition, and causing gumming and 

 other diseases, besides pi-eventing the formation of sound 

 fruiting wood. It is much better to allow the trees to 

 start steadily, and produce moderate growth, and well 

 ripened, close-jointed wood, upon which fruit will form. 

 Then, as the tree commences to fruit, nourishment will 

 be required, and may be applied copiously, when it will 

 be absorbed by the fruit without producing the injurious 

 effects above described. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF WALLS AND 

 FENCES. 



Walls. The arrangement and position of walls will, of 

 course, depend upon the size and the nature of the sur- 

 roundings, etc., but they should always be arranged, if 

 possible, in a square, with the principal wall facing south, 

 or as nearly so as practicable. Where it is possible, 

 place the walls in such a position that the outside as 

 well as the inside borders may be used for fruit, thus 

 making use of the whole of the wall space ; and bear in 

 mind that upon the north side many useful fruits may be 

 grown. The position, size, and requirements are so varied 



