724 Summary View of the Progress of Gardening, 



especially peach trees (see p. 460. ). We saw the gardens at 

 Elvaston Castle in May (see p. 458.), and again in Sep- 

 tember. At the latter period the peaches were ripe on the 

 lower parts of the trees, where they received the direct in- 

 fluence of the heat reflected from the tiles with which the 

 border was covered to the width of 4 ft. ; while on the upper 

 part of the walls the fruit was quite hard. The difference in 

 the period of ripening between the fruit at the bottom, and that 

 at the top of the tree, is found by Mr. Barron to vary from two 

 to three weeks, according to the weather. The pavement of 

 tiles, which is laid under the roots, is not, as we might suppose, 

 laid down before the trees are planted, but after they have 

 made three or four years' growth. At the end of the third 

 year, half that part of the border which the roots occupy is 

 lifted up, and the tiles introduced beneath the roots at the depth 

 of about 18 in. from the surface; and the fourth year the re- 

 maining half of the roots are lifted and paved under in the same 

 manner. By not paving before planting the trees, the latter grow 

 much quicker, from having a greater supply of moisture. Mr. 

 Barron follows exactly the same plan with the dwarf trees 

 planted in his borders, paving under each, after they have been 

 between three and four years planted, a space 12 ft. by 8 ft., and 

 training the head of the tree by means of cords, which tie one 

 branch to another, into a pyramid about 10 ft. high, and about 

 these dimensions at the base. In all this Mr. Barron proceeds 

 on the principle, that, to make the most you can of a tree, you 

 must have as complete a command over the roots as you have 

 over the branches. Exactly the same principle will apply in 

 the culture of flowers, which, to produce a maximum of flowers 

 with a minimum of leaves, must be planted in shallow soil, on a 

 dry bottom, by which, in wet seasons, they will not run to leaves 

 and stems; and in extraordinarily dry seasons, should they not 

 produce leaves and stems enough, they can be watered. The 

 depth of the beds of flower-gardens, ami the richness of the 

 soil, are as great enemies to the production of flowers, as the 

 common shapes and arrangement of the beds are to their artisti- 

 cal beauty. To return to horticulture, it is almost needless to 

 add, that, viewing the subject in this light, Mr. Barron never 

 crops his borders. 



Agriculture. < — The English Agricultural Society may be 

 considered as having been commenced in the early part of the 

 year, and as being now firmly established. The Highland 

 Society has been, if possible, more than usually active during 

 the year, and is erecting a spacious building for a museum, 

 library, &c, in Edinburgh, which will cost upwards of 6000/., 

 independently of furniture. At their Inverness meeting, some 

 very interesting discussion took place on the subject of tile- 



