69 



should be found backing so disputable a point. It 

 does, indeed, to us, appear a retrograde course ; for 

 surely the roots may be kept up, and the passage of 

 the water facilitated, without recourse to such expen- 

 sive and doubtful processes. 



In establishing a peach border, in which, as before 

 observed, draining is of paramount importance, pro- 

 viding waters lodge, the character of both soil and 

 subsoil must be taken into consideration. We have 

 known situations where no drainage whatever is ne- 

 cessary. Indeed, such is the case with the borders 

 under our own management. Our trees are planted 

 on platforms composed of broken bricks or stone, 

 which reach about two yards from the centre of the 

 tree each way. The subsoil beneath is of common 

 red sand, several feet in depth, and quite dry. "We 

 have grown first-rate peaches on such borders for 

 nearly twenty years without a single drain. The 

 majority of soils, however, require some drainage, and 

 for this purpose we would recommend a deep and ca- 

 pacious receiving drain along the front of the border, 

 and parallel with the wall, and cross drains running 

 rather diagonally into the main. The frequency of 

 the latter must be regulated by the amount of suspi- 

 cion as to wet. These drains must be well secured at 

 the top, and should carry a superstratum of broken 

 and imperishable material, from three to six inches 

 thick at least, in order to secure the surface from the 



