THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 79 



repair. The fruit borders must be thoroughly drained, 

 and if the existing soil is poor or heavy it should be 

 removed to a depth of 2J feet, and plenty of coarsely 

 chopped turf filled in ; above this spread fresh compost, 

 which has been prepared by mixing a couple of 

 barrowloads of manure, a bushel of ^-inch bones, and a 

 small quantity of lime and mortar rubble to each cart- 

 load of soil. The border should finally be 2 feet deep, 

 and besides the trees will grow early salads and 

 strawberries. 



In small unwalled kitchen gardens there is but one 

 way of growing fruit trees without monopolising too 

 much space, and that is on the Espalier system. Espalier 

 hedges flanking the main paths are so beautiful a feature 

 that, forgetting for the moment the heavy crops of fruit 

 they are capable of producing, we should welcome them 

 if only for their decorative value. Not only may we 

 train the branches along parallel wires, but the espaliers 

 on either side of a walk may be connected by arches, and 

 in due course the pathway converted into a continuous 

 bower. Or we may compromise between utility and 

 beauty by limiting the fruit trees to the fence proper, 

 and over arches, at say 20 foot intervals, fling 

 climbing Roses, Clematis, and Wistaria. The usual 

 form of espalier fence consists of iron uprights, with six 

 or eight strands of strained wire run between them, but 

 a more artistic effect is attained by having wooden posts 

 and top rail ; needless to say they are hardly so durable 

 as those of iron, and the cost, especially if the post heads 

 are in any way ornamented, is greater. 



Espalier fences may be set back four feet from the 

 path edge, and in the flanking borders thus formed 

 perennials and annuals for cutting, or if space is limited, 

 Lettuces, Parsley and Radishes may be grown. The 

 ground behind the fruit trees will be occupied by the 

 ordinary vegetable crops planted in parallel rows running 



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