OF APPLES. 121 



of twelve feet from tree to tree, and they should 

 be well trenched, two feet and a half deep at 

 least. If there should be gravel, or sour clay, it 

 must be taken out, and good mould put in its 

 place ; leaving the ground as rough as possible, 

 for the iiost and rain to mellow it. When you 

 level the ground, it should be done after rain j 

 you may then sow some small crops in the bor- 

 ders ; such as Lettuce or Spinage, or Cabbage for 

 transplanting ; but let not any of the Brassica 

 tribe come to full growth. Leaving Cabbage and 

 Broccoli on borders, near fruit trees, draws the 

 ground very much, fills the borders with insects, 

 and also prevents the sun and air from penetrating 

 into the ground. 



When the sun can have free access to the 

 border, it adds much to the flavour of the friut. 

 If you can spare the ground on the cross-borders 

 in Winter, it will be of great service to the trees 

 to ridge it up as loose as you can, and let it lie in 

 that state all Winter, to mellow and sweeten. 



If the soil be strong, I would recommend plant- 

 ing of apple-trees that are grafted on Paradise 

 Stocks ; but if the soil be light, free Stocks will 

 do much better. 



When the ground is a strong clay or brick earth, 

 mix it with old lime rubbish or coal-ashes, street 

 dung or sand : but what I use for the borders 

 against the walls, and which I prefer to every 

 other manure, is a vegetable mould produced from 



