MR. W. INGRAM — SOIL AND CLIMATE. 



33 



events, be diverted from fruit-borders, should it happen, as it not 

 unfrequently does, that a heavy fall occurs just at the ripening 

 period of, for instance, the peach crop ; a provision for turning it 

 from the peach- and fruit-borders should, if possible, be in the 

 possession of gardeners. For two years past (1863 & 1864) the rain- 

 fall, with but few exceptions, throughout the country has been 

 below the average, and fruit-crops have been most abundant ; this 

 fact seems to suggest what I have hinted above as desirable — the 

 employment of artificial means to restrict the fall of rain to cer- 

 tain choice fruits, to a limited extent : thus, if an annual fall of 

 18 inches of rain be adequate, let all above that amount be diverted. 

 I have long employed shutters to cover vine-borders, and I am 

 satisfied that I enjoy a great advantage in being able to control 

 the amount of rain upon them. 



I may, I think, with propriety supplement these remarks on 

 soil and climate, by a description of two plans I have devised to 

 counteract the ungenial influences of a cold climate and a moist 

 clay soil, and to give the advantages of increased warmth and 

 dryness to such fruit-trees as pears, peaches, and vines. The first 

 was designed specially to keep the roots of dwarf pyramidal pear 

 or other trees, the growth of which it was desirable to restrict 

 within defined limits, to save the necessity of removal for the 

 prevention of growth or severe root-pruning, and also to secure 

 to the tree the exclusive advantage of a suitable compost and ex- 

 clusion from the chilling influence of a clay subsoil. I excavate 

 a space according to the probable requirements of the tree to be 

 planted, say 3 feet square and 3 feet deep ; the bottom of the 

 excavation is paved with stone or brick, or concrete, the sides 

 built up with 4§ in. brickwork ; two small holes are left towards 

 the bottom in the brickwork, so that roots at some period may, if 

 requisite, be permitted to seek additional nutriment ; the position 

 of the holes being known, the excision of the roots is a matter of 

 easy accomplishment, if found necessary. The bottom of the 

 compartment is covered with drainage or rubble to the depth of 

 6 inches, so that the bricked-in space is like a well-drained flower- 

 pot. Two boards, the size of the space, will be effectual at any 

 time in turning off" excessive or undesired rain. 



The next contrivance for fruit-trees may be connected with the 

 foregoing with advantage. It consists of a series of hollow brick 

 pillars, 4 j in. brickwork, raised to the height of 5 feet, and 2 feet 

 square, giving 40 feet of exposed surface for each tree ; each pillar 

 is connected with an underground flue, thus connecting in one> 



VOL. I, D 



