38 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
around tliem with about two harrowloads of leaf soil to give them a good 
start. The remainder is filled in with the same soil as before, sloping to 
the stem of the tree. One good watering in May or June is all that will 
be required. It will be seen that at this depth the roots are out of reach of 
the spade, and are in their natural position—moist in summer, and dry 
and warm in winter. This is to be done on soil well drained, 4 feet deep. 
Wall fruit trees in general are placed under bad conditions. There is 
often concrete instead of good soil beneaili the roots, and the borders are 
dug up, and not unfrequently ridged in the winter months ; while the drip 
from the wall falls on the stems and roots. What can be expected under 
such management, but diseased trees, and little or no fruit ? Deep planting, 
with good soil instead of the concrete, would put the roots in their natural 
position, warm and dry, and out of the reach of the spade. Our fruit trees, 
from which we expect so much, are not in so good a position as the com¬ 
mon forest trees, with respect to their roots. We must either give up 
digging and cropping the fruit-tree borders, or else put the proper soil down, 
for the roots should be below, instead of on the top. 
I hope soon to see a great reform in planting fruit trees, by putting 
the roots in their natural position—deep and dry. We labour hard, 
and at great expense, every year, to get the roots to the top by mulch¬ 
ing, watering, &c., just in order to get them killed in winter by cold 
and wet. We know that the ground is warmer at 2^ feet deep than at 
1 foot, and we ought, therefore, to keep the roots deeper in order to keep 
them warmer, for they have work to do in winter as well as in summer. 
We must dig deep to find the gold; and we must plant deep and dry to 
find fruit. If we do this, we can truly say we are assisting Nature, by 
putting the roots in their natural position—deep. 
Sudbrooke Holme, Lincoln. Geoege McBey. 
ON PHLOXES. 
S I have for several years past been more successful with these than 
most of my acquaintance, and have been fortunate enough to gain 
first honours wherever I have shown them, I will endeavour to give 
a little practical information for the benefit of others. When w T ell 
grown, Phloxes are generally admitted to rank amongst the finest of 
handy herbaceous plants, continuing in bloom, as they do, from the end of 
June, or beginning of July, according to locality, until cut by sharp autum¬ 
nal frosts. Last season I exhibited some even as late as November. They 
are of easy culture, and for the most part extremely hardy, flourishing in 
almost all situations ; they are besides almost endless in variety, singularly 
attractive, and delicately fragrant. 
