THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



327 



this purpose, or pieces of chalk which have not been exposed 

 to the weather. Where neither of these is to be got, fagot- 

 wood is to be used. Let this drain have a suflicient fall to 

 carry the water either clear off to the outside of the garden, 

 or else to some main drain, where it will be carried off' v/ith 

 the other superfluous water, collected in the garden. Upon 

 the bottom of the border thus prepared, lay some well wrought 

 clay, which should be spread equally over the whole, three or 

 four inches thick, sprinkling a little good lime amongst it; 

 over this lay two or three inches of finely sifted coal-ashes, 

 and let the whole be well incorporated by treading, and 

 after partly dried, well rolled, until the whole form a compact 

 solid floor. This operation should be carried on in dry wea- 

 ther, to admit of its drying quickly. This will form a com- 

 pact floor, such as many barn and cottage-floors are composed 

 of, and will not be readily penetrated by any roots that the 

 trees may send down. The compost, which should have been 

 preparing for some months previously, by being turned over 

 and exposed to the air, should then be brought forward, and 

 thrown into the border ; if the soil that was taken out, were 

 naturally good, and of a loamy nature, a portion of it may be 

 again returned into the border, and well mixed with the new 

 earth, and the border filled up a foot or fifteen inches above 

 the intended level to allow for sinking. This should be all 

 done through the summer, previous to planting the trees. The 

 soil prepared for this border should be such as is often met 

 with upon old sheep-downs, and of that sort generally known 

 by the appellation of light rich loam, of a hazel color, and 

 friable texture, crumbling to pieces in the hand, by rubbing, 

 and containing a large portion of fibrous matter, or the rotted 

 roots of plants. Such soil as this is anxiously sought for by 

 the nurserymen for their gi'een-house plants, and if good, is 

 the best soil we have ever found for peaches, and will be suffi- 

 ciently calcidated to grow fine healthy trees without any com- 

 pound whatever. If manure is to be added, from a supposi- 

 tion that the virgin loam is not rich enough, prefer that of 

 deconri)osed vegetable matter, such as is generally called vege- 

 table moidd. Avoitl, if possible, the addition of dung for 

 those trees, as it only excites them to grow luxuriantly, and 



