28 



GENERAL FORMATION, &c, OF GARDENS. 



simple of which is laying in 6-inch drain- 

 tiles across the borders at distances of 

 from 6 to 10 feet asunder, embedded 

 amongst the drainage referred to. These 

 cross drains should communicate with 

 two similar ones laid along the back and 

 front of the border in a longitudinal direc- 

 tion ; and at convenient distances tubular 

 metallic ventilators should be placed verti- 

 cally along the two latter, so that air 

 may be admitted and allowed to circulate 

 through the whole system of the drainage. 



All borders should slope up from the 

 walk to the wall, in proportion to their 

 breadth: a border 12 feet wide should be 

 at least 12 inches higher at the back than 

 at the front — a circumstance which should 

 be taken into consideration when the 



walls are building, that additional height 

 may be allowed. 



Sloping the borders in this manner 

 tends to render them drier and warmer, 

 while the roots of the trees will also de- 

 rive some advantage from the rays of the 

 sun acting on the surface: this is the 

 more necessary to be observed in cold, 

 late situations, and where the soil is 

 naturally cold and clayey. In forming 

 new borders allowance must be made for 

 sinking, which the soil will do more or 

 less, according to the quantity of decom- 

 posable matter in it. 



The annexed diagram, fig. 11, will 

 elucidate the remarks just made — a a 

 are the gravel walks; b the parapet wall; 

 c c the drain under the walks; d d the 



Ffe. 11. 



openings of the air-drains communicating 

 with the drains under the border, embed- 

 ded in the drainage, but not jointed close 

 on the upper side to admit of the air pass- 

 ing through amongst the drainage, and so 

 to the roots of the trees ; e e the openings 

 of the drain-pipes close to the bottom 

 of the wall. 



In the above diagram we have shown 

 the border on one side of the wall finished 

 with a dwarf parapet wall ; in the other, 

 the border is laid in the usual manner, 

 only having a much greater inclination 

 towards the walk. 



So important do we hold the elevation 

 of borders for fruit trees, particularly in 

 cold and wet situations, that we would 

 prefer three parts at least of their depth 

 being above the general ground level, and 

 that the front next the walk should be 

 enclosed with a parapet wall of brick or 

 stone work, equal in height to three- 

 fourths the depth of the border. This 

 would in no way affect the expense of the 

 walls, as, instead of sinking the founda- 

 tions under the original soil, they might 

 commence on its surface, if found to be 

 sufficiently sound. 



Such a departure from long-established 

 rules will, we doubt not, meet with that 

 share of opposition which innovations, 



however valuable they may in reality be, 

 have to contend with. When, however, 

 it is considered how much of our success 

 in producing healthy trees and abundant 

 crops depends upon the proper formation 

 of fruit-tree borders, we should set anti- 

 quated prejudice at defiance, and be 

 guided only by the force of reason. Sup- 

 posing the fruit-tree borders should form 

 a platform a foot, or even more, above the 

 level of the walks, the effect would be to 

 give a greater apparent height to the 

 walls themselves ; while it would secure 

 the roots within proper limits, and place 

 them in a condition to derive the full 

 benefit from the solar influence, of which 

 they would be deprived if, as at present, 

 sunk under the general surface. Archi- 

 tecturally speaking, borders so construct- 

 ed would form the base on which the 

 walls stand; and, having a stone or brick 

 boundary, with' a substantial coping, next 

 the walk, would form a part of the walls, 

 and this the more especially if the latter 

 are built upon architectural principles. 



The views we have endeavoured to 

 detail in this article, with the exception 

 of the parapet wall, which we believe to 

 be an original idea, we are glad to find 

 agree in all essentials with the opinions 

 expressed by Mr Errington— certainly the 



