32 
THE FRUIT CULTIVATOR. 
a perfectly dry spot of ground, dig out a trench five feet wide, of any 
required length, and one foot deep from the natural level of the 
ground. After the sides are sloped, cover both them and the bottom 
with turf, the grass side outwards, on which the fruit are laid, two 
and a half feet thick, but highest like a ridge along the middle. The 
apples are then covered closely up with turves, the grass next the 
fruit: and over all must be laid a covering of dry earth pne foot thick. 
All the best keeping apples may be preserved in this wav till the months 
of March and April; but it should be observed, that they remain 
sound but for a very short time after being taken from the pit. Pro¬ 
tecting the fruit from the action of the air and changes of weather, is 
alone necessary to prevent their decomposition. 
There is another very simple way of keeping apples sound, as 
practised by* the author. In a day or two after gathering, let each 
apple be wiped perfectly dry, wrapped in thin white paper, and 
packed in a box or basket, with straw at bottom, sides, and on the 
top. Thus packed, they are placed in a dry, airy room, where they 
keep extremely well. Apples may be kept by art much longer than 
pears ; but these last may be preserved for a month or two over their 
time by jar-packing, and placing them deep in the ground. 
Formation of Fruit Borders .—In the first place it should be un¬ 
derstood, that if the garden has a good staple of fresh loamy soil of 
the depth of eighteen inches, on a dry subsoil of hard pure gravel or 
rock, no extra making or preparing the border is necessary, except 
trenching, and laying it in proper form. No border should be made 
deeper than one foot and a half. In excavating the bottom there is 
danger lest it become a reservoir for water, which without such a 
piece of ditching would not be attracted there at all. If the subsoil 
be any kind of clay or earth retentive of water, it is not well to dis¬ 
turb it, unless any water lodging in the excavation can be speedily 
drained away. On such a substratum, it is better to raise the border 
* 
to the requisite depth by a proper soil brought on, than to sink the 
bottom. If the bottom be naturally wet, either from its quality or 
situation, it should be effectually drained ; and some pains should be 
taken to prevent the roots being invited into it. This is not easily 
done unless the whole bottom be closely paved ; no other material 
will prevent the descent of the roots, if invited bv nutritive matter or 
by humidity. Sufficient drainage, and the top soil made and kept 
as much like that recommended for melons as possible, will go far to 
keep the roots from running away from the place intended for them. 
When tl le hordes are made, levelled, and all ready for the trees, 
the aspects and distances between should be well considered. Many 
