THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
377 
earth at all. If we had to furnish such with flowers, we should 
first give them a coat of tar to prevent destruction by damp, then 
fix two strong rods across to form a letter X horizontally, to give 
strength ; then fill them with moss, and in that plunge potted 
plants. 
FRUIT-TREE BORDERS. 
fRUIT trees, of whatever kind, should be planted on 
shallow ground, more especially if the quality of the 
soil is adhesive. As a first principle, the border 
sh< uld be dry ; and, if not naturally so, drainage, com- 
plete and efficient, must be introduced. The drainage 
must, from its depth, entirely prevent the roots from getting 
beyond it. The soil between the drainage and the atmosphere 
should be rendered friable by exposure to the elements, and 
when it partakes of considerable tenacity I would urgently 
recommend an admixture of stones, flints, brick-bats, or any 
similar material, say to the extent of one-fourth. These will 
enable the rains to percolate freely through the body of earth in 
which the roots are. They will also in dry weather hold moisture, 
and tend greatly to maintain the border in an equable state. The 
roots under such circumstances will be satisfactorily placed ; no 
water can remain or be held in the soil sufficiently long to prove 
injurious, the stones intermixed with the soil will allow it freely to 
pass into the drainage beneath, where preparation must have been 
made for its passing readily off. No kind of fruit-bearing tree 
should ever be planted deep, the proper position of the roots in 
planting is to stretch them carefully on the surface of the border, 
then to cover them loosely with soil to the depth of three inches ; 
on this lay a slight covering of decayed leaves, merely to protect 
them from drying winds until the roots are perfectly established in 
the soil. The roots are certain to find their way downwards, but 
when they are down they are not so likely to find their way towards 
the surface. Fruit tree borders should never be dug with the spade. 
The surface may be stirred and kept open with the fork, and then 
merely for the purpose of loosening the soil. The roots should be 
encouraged to the surface by the application of dressings of decom- 
posed leaves. Wood-ashes will occasionally prove useful, and so 
will soot. These encourage the kind of wood likely to prove pro- 
ductive, and the produce is entirely different both as regards size 
and quality, from that when heavy dressings of stable manure are 
applied, particularly when the borders are imperfectly drained and 
the soil of considerable adhesiveness. Manure dug into the borders 
thus circumstanced is only increasing the evil. The soil is constantly 
wet and spongy. The roots are surrounded with unhealthy fluid; 
and the air never penetrates beyond the surface ; consequently, rank 
and barren wood, in large quantities, is annually, and to no useful 
December. 
