WALL-BORDERS — ORCHARDS. 31 



spade. Loudon recommends successive layers, an inch 

 thick, of clean gravel, pulverized earth, and then gra- 

 vel, well watered and firmly compressed by means of 

 a heavy roller. Good soil to the depth of two feet and 

 a half, or three feet, is placed over this impervious 

 bottom. Three-fourths rich loam, and one-fourth light 

 sandy earth, form a mixture congenial to the gene- 

 rality of fruit-trees. In selecting the soil, regard may 

 be had to the particular trees which are to cover dif- 

 ferent portions of the wall. Thus, a heavy soil may 

 be allotted to pears and plums ; loam of a medium 

 character, inclining to be strong, to peaches, nectarines, 

 and apricots ; and a lighter earth to cherries and figs. 

 Above all, care should be taken to render the borders 

 sufficiently rich and substantial. Whilst every skillful 

 horticulturist may, in various ways, reduce the luxu- 

 riance of his trees, nothing can compensate for extreme 

 poverty in the soil. The same principle will dictate 

 moderation in cropping wall-borders with culinary vege- 

 tables ; a practice in which gardeners are apt to exceed 

 from a desire to furnish very early crops of peas, tur- 

 nips, cahbage, or potatoes. Lettuce, endive, or small 

 salad plants, do little harm. 



07'chards. — Within the limits of the greater propor- 

 tion of large gardens, such a number of dwarf standard 

 trees may be planted as will prove sufiicient to aff"ord 

 a supply of fruit for an ordinary family. W^here, how- 

 ever, this is not the case, it is desirable that there 

 should be a separate orchard. A situation similar to 

 that of a garden, and the same preparatory operations, 

 are necessary : but a simple hedge will, in most situa- 

 tions, suffice for a fence. The trees may here be on 

 free stocks and trained as high standards, and the taller 



