406 Tr-ansactions of the London Horticultural Society. 



above-mentioned deptli was 77°, and that of the water 82°. In twenty-four 

 hours the temperature of the border was 80°, or had gained 3°. 



" The third and hist watering was performed on the 28th of July. The tem- 

 perature of the border at 18 in. below the surface was 72°, and that of the 

 spring water 57°. In twenty-four hours the border was reduced to 61°, or 

 had lost 11° of temperature. At the pond water station, the border at the 

 depth of 18 in. was 78°, and the water itself 74.°. In twenty-four hours the 

 temperature of the border was still 78°, or had suffered no change of tem- 

 perature from the watering it had undergone. 



" It is very clear from these facts, that, whilst spring water greatly cooled 

 the soil, that from the pond exerted no such operation, but on the contrary 

 often raised its temperature. 



" In proceeding to describe the effects on vegetation produced by these 

 different kinds of water, Mr. Drummond observes that on the 10th of May, 

 when the border was first watered, there was no perceptible difference in the 

 appearance of the four trees : they had all excellent crops of fruit. About 

 the first of August, however the contrast was very striking. No one would 

 then have supposed that the four trees were of the same variety. The fruit 

 of the two trees which had been supplied with the pond water was much 

 larger, of a higher colour, and finer quahty, than the fruit of the other two 

 trees which had been supplied with spring water. The leaves, also, of the 

 former trees were almost double the size of those of the latter. Even in the 

 following spring the difference was perceptible, as evinced in the larger blos- 

 som and more vigorous setting of the fruit. 



" In the management of borders, it is of great importance, continues Mr. 

 Drummond, to preserve the surface roots of trees. At the cottage garden 

 the borders have never been dug since the trees were planted ; and, when 

 manure is applied, it is laid down and covered over with about 6 in. of the 

 surface mould. The soil, when thus treated, becomes filled to the surface 

 with fibrous roots, which would be injured or destroyed were the border to be 

 dug. When the manure is retained in a body near the surface the border is 

 kept in a moister state, and the roots do not penetrate downwards to the 

 subsoil in search of water. Even where vegetables are raised as early crops 

 on the border, the soil is never disturbed to more than 6 in. in depth ; and the 

 crops are ready earlier than in the ordinary mode of digging to the depth of 

 18 in. When the fibrous roots of trees have been injured by digging the 

 border too deep, they will soon be restored if a layer of manure, 6 or 8 inches 

 thick, be first laid on the surface, and then beaten down with the spade, and 

 covered afterwards with about 6 in. of mould. The roots will at once begin 

 to strike out and run along the under surface of the dung, forming at length 

 a complete mass of fibrous roots. 



" When vegetables are raised on fruit-borders, they may affect the at- 

 mosphere, in regard both to heat and moisture, in a degree that may some- 

 times prove beneficial, and at others injurious, to the trees. When the wall, 

 for example, becomes heated, the air in contact with it is rarefied and carried 

 upwards, and fresh air from the surface of the border moves forward to supply 

 its place ; in this way a current of air is soon formed, which continually 

 passes over the heated wall as long as it retains an excess of heat. Of this 

 circumstance advantage may be sometimes taken where the heat of the wall 

 is excessive ; for, by keeping the surface of the border in a moist state, we 

 diminish at once the temperature, and augment the moisture of the atmo- 

 sphere which envelopes the tree. On the other hand, by raking the border, as 

 will afterwards be shown, we contribute to keep its surface in a dry state ; 

 and thereby to increase the temperature, and lessen the moisture of the sur- 

 rounding atmosphere. At different seasons these opposite practices may be 

 beneficiallv adopted. Thus in spring, when the trees are in blossom, should 

 a clear frosty night set in, with the prospect of bright sunshine during the 

 next day, it is of no little importance to water the surface of the border before 

 the sun appears, as the evaporation that succeeds will moderate the excess of 



