40 OF TEACHES. 



the borders, you should take out the earth where 

 the trees are to be planted, as before directed for 

 Apricots : and keep working the rest with rotten 

 leaves, or street-dung, and the above mixture ; 

 throwing them up, as early as you can spare them, 

 in ridges rough from the spade, which will let the 

 frost and sun penetrate and meliorate the ground. 

 If the ground should be wet, make some drains 

 across the borders, to lead the water from the roots 

 of the trees to a drain made along the middle walk. 

 If the ground should have a slope, you can very 

 easily convey the water off when the springs are 

 near the surface ; but if the wet be occasioned by 

 rains, and the stiffness of the ground holds the 

 water, you should give the border a proper slope 

 to carry it off' from the roots of the trees. Fill 

 the cross drains, leading to that along the middle 

 of the walk, with old bricks or stones at bottom, 

 and at top witli rough gravel *, which will keep 

 the ground dry ; at the same time laying it sloping 

 from the wall, so as to throw the water that falls in 

 heavy rains towards the middle walk, where it will 

 soon soak into the ground. When water is suffered 

 to stand about the roots of tender trees in strong 

 land, it is sure to bring on the mildew, which will 

 spoil and render them good for nothing but the 

 faggot-pilc. Sometimes, indeed, I have recovered 

 them, by moving them to another aspect. All 



♦ The drains sliould be deep enough to have two feet of 

 mould above the gravel ; which will prevent their being hurt in 

 trenching the ground. 



