CULINARY GARDENING. 



BOOK 1. 



CHAPTER III. 



OF THE CULTURE OF FRUIT TREES AND FRUIT SHRUBS. 



This is one of the most comprehensive; and difficult branches 

 of horticulture: it may be subdivided as follows; viz. 1. The 

 culture of wall fruits ; 2. The culture of espaliers ; 3. The cul- 

 ture of standards; 4. The culture of the lesser fruits, or fruit 

 shrubs. 



1. The culture of wall fruits. — The first object of at- 

 tention here is the construction, situation, and height of the 

 walls, and general dimensions of the borders ; but as these natu- 

 rally belong to the general formation of a garden, I shall pass 

 over it to the formation of the soil. With regard to depth: in 

 dry situations, it may be three feet for most kinds ; but in many 

 cases two feet will be preferable; in such as are moist, eigh- 

 teen or twenty inches is most proper, the bottom being paved 

 or imbedded with a composition of loam and gravel, or rub- 

 bish of masonry, and forming a declivity southwards. The pro- 

 priety of a shallow border on moist soils, and indeed in general, 

 I have lately experienced in several striking cases, particularly 



