MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 2B 



neceffary to take out fome of it, particularly when you firft 

 make the borders, and mix with it fome light mould, land, 

 or old lime rubbiih. At firft making the borders, you mould 

 take out the earth where the trees are to be planted, as before 

 directed for Apricots ; and keep working the reft with rotten 

 leaves, or ftreet-dung, and the above mixture ; throwing them 

 up, as early as you can fpare them, in ridges rough from the 

 fpade, which will let the. froft and fun penetrate and meliorate 

 the ground. 



If the ground fhould be wet, make fome drains acrofs the 

 borders, to lead the. water from the roots of the trees to a 

 drain made along the middle walk. If the ground fhould 

 have a Hope, you can very eafily convey the water off when 

 the fprings are near the furface ; but if the wet be occafioned 

 By rains, and the ftiffnefs of the ground holds the water, you 

 mould give the border a proper Hope to carry it off from the 

 roots of the trees. Fill the crofs drains, leading to that along 

 the middle of the walk, with old bricks or ftones at bottom,., 

 and at top with rough gravel*, which will keep the ground 

 dry ; at the fame time laying it Hoping from the wall, fo as 

 to throw the water that falls in heavy rains toward the middle 

 walk, where it will foon foak into the ground. When water 

 is fuffered to ft and about; the roots of tender trees in ftrong, 

 iknd, it is fure to bring on the mildew, which will fpoi-1 and 

 render them good for nothing but the fa got- pile. Sometimes, 

 indeed, I have recovered them, by moving them to another 

 afpecl. All the French Peaches are. very liable to mildew, on i 

 ftrong land. 



* The drains ihould be deep enough' to have two feet of mould above. the gravel ; . 

 which will prevent their being hurt in trenching the ground,. 



Wliere, 



