THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



SEPTEMBER, 1827. 



PART I. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Art. I. On the Apple Tree, as trained against a Wall. By 

 Mr. Charles Harrison, F.H.S. 



J. HE kind of soil which I consider most suitable for the apple 

 tree is a strong loam upon a dry bottom ; for, if the bottom 

 be wet, the trees are generally diseased and affected with 

 canker. 



The border for the trees is constructed in the following man- 

 ner: The depth is three feet at the wall, and two feet six 

 inches at the front, also twelve or fourteen broad. The sur- 

 face of the under stratum is so formed, as to have an inclin- 

 ation from the wall to the front of the border of twelve inches. 

 After this is done, a drain is made to run close to the wall, 

 and in a direction with it ; also another to run parallel with 

 it, at the front of the border. These drains are open stone 

 drains, and are so made that all superabundant water can be 

 carried entirely away from the border. The drains are so 

 constructed that the tops of them are about three inches 

 higher than the surface of the following composed substratum. 

 After the drains are made, there is laid all over the surface of 

 the under stratum, three inches think of moderate-sized gravel 

 (if gravel cannot be had, stones or brick bats broken to a small 

 size may be used for the purpose) ; upon this spread about 

 one inch thick of fine gravel (or instead of it strong road drift) ; 

 the whole is then well rolled or beaten firm together ; after this 

 is done, about three inches more of gravel or small stones is 

 laid, which is also beaten or rolled to an even surface, but 

 not so as to bind them very close together. This method of 

 Vol. III. — No. 9. b 



