60 



depth, theiij we would recommend especially for our 

 northern counties ; for, after all, ripening the wood is 

 the grand leading principle, without which all other 

 appliances will be neutralised. Hot and dry summers 

 are the exception, not the rule, in England ; and the 

 above depth we think provides best for the average of 

 seasons. 



It is comparatively easy to apply water when 

 needed ; not so easy to remove it in soils of great 

 depth and in rainy seasons. There is no great diffi- 

 culty in applying three or four barrowsfull of manure 

 as top-dressing, during unusually hot periods ; much 

 difficulty, however, exists in checking a tendency to 

 late and immature growths, when trees are planted 

 in deep and rich soils — especially during a damp and 

 dark summer, closed by a showery autumn. A good 

 sound loam, therefore, little more than half a yard in 

 depth, will, we think, best suit the majority of cases. 

 As, however, trees are very differently circumstanced 

 when planted inside the peach-house, we shall make 

 our remarks more serviceable by detailing the style of 

 border best adapted for the forcing-house, as also that 

 for the out-doors wall. Hot walls will also require a 

 separate notice, and we proceed to offer practical points 

 on each respectively. 



Mode of Preparing Borders out of doors, — To de- 

 termine on a proper level is the most important prin- 

 ciple from which to start. If the ground is in a low 



