THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 145 



with the back of a fork, and allowing 2 or 3 inches for 

 subsiding. As in the case of vine-borders, I recom- 

 mend that only part of the border be made at iirst, the 

 rest to be added in 3 or 4 feet widths, as the roots of 

 the trees extend. In thus making a peach-border with 

 fresh, turfy, strong loam I do not advise the use of any 

 manure except the few bones, which stimulate sUghtly 

 over a long series of years. Common manure, either 

 from the stable or cow-house, is undesirable at first, on 

 account of the natural tendency of young peach-trees to 

 make rank, unfruitful growths. The borders can be 

 enriched in after-years, when the trees require it, by 

 top-dressing and watering with manure-water. 



I would be sorry to convey, by these directions, 

 the idea that very considerable success in peach-culture 

 is not attainable except when fine fibry calcareous loam 

 can be had from an old pasture. No doubt the cha- 

 racter of the soil in some gardens demands that all, or 

 nearly all, the soil for the peach-border should be 

 exchanged for some of a very different character. Where 

 the natural soil is very sandy, or gravelly, and shallow, 

 satisfactory results need not be expected unless fresh 

 soil to some considerable extent be added to it, 

 or wholly substituted. In this case, and when 

 strong loam cannot be had, some strong soil, of a 

 sound clayey nature, should be mixed with the light 

 soil; and the parings of roadsides, with the herbage 

 and roots, will also assist in making the soil more 

 suitable. "Where, on the other hand, the natural soil is 

 a very strong, adhesive clay, its unsuitableness in that 

 respect can be greatly remedied by burning a third of 

 it and mixing it with the original, and by also adding 

 to it a portion of road-scrapings. Where the natural 



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