KITCHEN GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. 



water-drip groove on the under side of the projection (111. No. 302) , does just as well 

 and looks much neater than more expensive forms of coping. Where stone is costly, a 



coping similar to that shown in the 

 may be adopted, consisting of bricks 

 jecting courses of tiles or slates, and 

 corbelling out brick headers under 

 dentilled course would add very 

 to build into the wall under the 

 " board irons " on which boards may 



FIG. 302. 



accompanying sketch (111. No. 303) 

 set at an angle and resting on pro- 

 f if additional ornament is required, 

 the tile courses so as to form a 

 little to the cost. It is advisable 

 coping, iron brackets known as 

 be laid as a protection to the fruit 



FIG. 303. 



trees in the Spring, in the manner shown on the same sketches. The irons may be used 

 later on to fix bird netting. 



Wiring The ordinary and most economical method of wiring a wall is on the principle 



walls. adopted for the espalier shown in illustration No. 307. The 



wires should be placed twelve inches apart, commencing eight 

 inches from the ground and one and a half inches from the wall 

 in order to allow the fingers to pass behind the branches when 

 tying in. The necessary eyelets and fasteners for end straining 

 bars should be built in as the work proceeds ; it is a great mistake 

 to break into the completed wall in order to insert them. 



As stated in the previous chapter, when not provided for in 

 a separate department, the vineries, peach houses and other glass 

 houses are generally built against the South side of the North 

 wall, which ensures the greatest amount of light and Sun, but they may also be 

 built with an East or West aspect, and this is often the most economical method 

 of treating fruit houses. The portions of the walls not occupied by glasshouses should 

 be used for choice hardy fruit trees of varieties suitable for the aspect. Thus, 

 on the walls facing South, peaches, apricots, Coe's golden drop plum and the better 

 varieties of pears and apples may be planted, while walls having a Western aspect will 

 grow excellent crops of apples, pears and plums, while the Eastern aspect will grow 

 choice pears and plums. The Northern side of the North or South walls might grow 

 morella cherries and red currants. It would be impossible to give here lists of fruit 

 trees suited to all localities and soils ; this subject in itself deserves, and moreover has, 

 volumes devoted to it. Unless the object is to render a public service by experiments, 

 the best of the varieties which are known to flourish locally should be planted. Fan- 

 shaped wall or espalier trees should be planted only as young trees, but cordons or 

 candelabra shapes may safely be obtained in fruiting sizes, especially pears. 



Fruit Fruit borders should be from fifteen to eighteen feet wide and, for the sake of 



borders. symmetry, the same width from each wall. They require careful making, especially on 



heavy lands, where the whole of the surface soil should be carefully thrown back and 

 a layer of broken stones, bricks, rubbish or burnt clay spread over the ground to a 

 depth of at least ten inches, the ground having been first thoroughly drained. On 

 the top of this rubbish, a layer of good turf from an old pasture should be spread or, 

 if this is not obtainable, a layer of half-rotted stable manure ; the soil may then be 

 thrown back and more added until there is a depth of at least two feet with a rise 

 of nine inches from the front of the border to the back. These borders can be used 

 for the earliest, crops of vegetables and salads or for strawberries. 



-l!n soils which do not lie on chalk or limestone, old mortar or wood ashes and also 

 a sprinkling of crushed bones, should form a fractional part of the compost of the fruit 

 border, otherwise stone fruits will almost certainly fail. 



Planting The planting of the trees is not generally conducted with the care it demands. 



fruit trees. Not only is insufficient time allowed for the borders to consolidate before planting but 



238 



