SOIL. 



27 



we stripped a considerable extent of old 

 park land, and indeed collected what we 

 could find suitable for the purpose wher- 

 ever it could be conveniently spared. In 

 this manner did we proceed, trench 

 after trench, until the whole of the prin- 

 cipal or square garden was completed 

 — removing nearly 14,000 cubic feet 

 of gravel, and replacing it with a cor- 

 responding quantity of good soil. The 

 soil is of a rather light loamy nature in 

 this part, resting on a fine alluvial gravel 

 to the depth of from 2 to 5 feet, be- 

 low which is a bed of clay of unknown 

 depth. Draining became unnecessary on 

 account of the depth of the cellars, which 

 extend along the whole length of the 

 principal garden : under these is the 

 larger reservoir already alluded to, built 

 in the solid clay, and supplied by the 

 rain water, which, passing through the 

 made soil, percolates through the gravel 

 stratum, and finds its way along the sur- 

 face of the clay in drains into the reser- 

 voir, which is capable of retaining a 

 sufficiency of water of excellent quality 

 for all our purposes. 



In regard to the depth and quality of 

 soils, we may observe that much, as regards 

 both, depends on locality. In wet districts, 

 such as the west of Scotland, where a 

 much greater amount of rain falls than 

 on the eastern shores, a lighter and shal- 

 lower soil should be preferred. Thus in 

 the new gardens in progress of formation 

 at Poltalloch, situated within a mile and a 

 half of the sea on the west coast of Argyll- 

 shire, and surrounded by very lofty 

 mountains, and where, we have been in- 

 formed, 60 inches of rain fell during 

 the last year, (1850,) the soil is of a light 

 sandy, loamy texture, resting on sharp, 

 alluvial sand, and the angle of inclination 

 considerable towards the south. We are 

 making the soil only 2J feet deep ; while 

 that at Dalkeith, as we have mentioned, 

 is 4 feet deep — the fall of rain having been 

 there last year (1850) only 18 inches; 

 but this is somewhat below the average. 



Strong clayey soils in wet localities 

 should be avoided, nor are they by any 

 means the most proper for garden pur- 

 poses anywhere. Although capable of 

 producing excellent crops, these crops do 

 not come away freely in spring, and con- 

 sequently the productions are late in 

 coming to maturity. 



In regard to the improvement of soils, 

 all are capable of amelioration, where the 

 expense is gone to. Strong tenacious 

 soils are ameliorated by drainage, by the 

 addition of sand, by burning, and by ex- 

 posure to the weather ; while light, sandy 

 soils can have consistency given them by 

 the addition of loam or clay. Beyond this, 

 a chemical analysis should be made to as- 

 certain what parts necessary for the food 

 of plants are wanting, and these should 

 be added ; while counter agents should 

 be employed to correct such ingredients 

 as may exist injurious to the productions 

 required. (For chemical analysis of soils, 

 vide vol. ii., Analysis of Soils and Ma- 

 nures.) 



§ 7. — FRUIT-TREE BORDERS. 



Many conflicting opinions have been 

 published of late years on the proper 

 formation of fruit-tree borders. The 

 most important of these coincide with 

 our own conviction as to three general 

 principles to be kept in view regarding 

 them — namely, a dry bottom, proper 

 breadth and depth, and leaving the sur- 

 face uncropped with flowers or vegetables. 



The first operation in forming tho- 

 roughly-prepared fruit-tree borders is the 

 excavation of the natural soil, whether 

 good or bad, that a proper bottom or 

 foundation may be made. Presuming 

 that, when the walks were formed, a drain 

 has been carried under them, the bottom 

 of the border is then to be laid in a slop- 

 ing direction from the wall to this drain, 

 sufficient declivity being given to allow 

 any water that may find its way down- 

 wards to fall into the drain. At one time 

 we practised and recommended forming 

 the bottoms of borders like a solid floor, 

 in order to render them impervious to 

 the roots of the trees, with a view to pre- 

 vent these extending into an uncongenial 

 subsoil ; and immediately upon such floors 

 we formed the border. Experience has 

 since taught us that it is better to lay upon 

 the bottoms thus formed a drainage 12 

 inches thick of broken stones, brickbats, 

 or other similar durable draining material, 

 and on that the prepared soil for the 

 trees. Nor is it without advantage to the 

 trees that subterranean aeration be ad- 

 mitted to their roots. This may be ef- 

 fected in a variety of ways, the most 



