ESPALIERS. 9 



larly incline from three feet inside the Espa- 

 liers, down to the drain at the front of the 

 fruit tree border. Betwixt the materials of 

 which the walk is composed, and the under 

 stratum, there must be about eighteen inches 

 deep of suitable soil for the roots of the wall 

 and Espalier trees to run in, so that they 

 may proceed forward without any obstruction 

 whatever. (See remarks on this subject in 

 making Vine borders. 



A cast iron trellis resembling a common 

 street railing has been tried and found to be 

 somewhat cheaper than a wooden one, but 

 its chief merit is in the durability of it. A 

 cheaper trellis, and equally as advantageous 

 may be formed by having round cast iron 

 posts fixed in stones, placed at six feet apart, 

 and two bars, either of wood or cast iron, so 

 long as to reach from post to post, and so 

 constructed as to remain secure, when once 

 fixed. These cross bars must be fixed, one 

 along the top, and the other about twelve 

 inches from the ground. There must be 

 holes in them at nine or ten inches distance, 

 so that wire may be stretched upright from 

 one bar to the other, in order to secure the 

 trees to them. Care must be taken to keep 

 the trellis well painted, or coloured with coal 

 tar. The height of the trellis ought not to 

 exceed five feet, otherwise it would obstruct 

 a general view of the garden, and also cause 

 a great deal of shade. 



